JOHOR BARU: A Singaporean artiste was fined RM1,900 by the Magistrate’s Court for fighting with his fellow countrymen at a shopping mall and at a police station here.
Actor P. Suresh, 46, and businessman Chua Chin Heng, 56, were jointly charged with the brawl at the Larkin police station at 6.15pm last Sunday.
Suresh pleaded guilty while Chua claimed trial to the charge, framed under Section 90 of the Police Act 1967, for disorderly conduct at a police station.
The offence is punishable by a jail term of up to six months or a maximum fine of RM500, or both upon conviction.
Magistrate A. Shaarmini ordered Suresh to pay a fine of RM400, and set bail for Chua at RM4,000 with one Malaysian surety.
She also fixed Jan 27 for next mention.
Chua, his wife Loe Sou Peng, 55, and their son Axl Chua Kai Jun, 27, also pleaded not guilty to hurting Suresh at a shopping mall in Jalan Serigala here at 5.17pm on the same day.
The three claimed trial to the charge under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt which carries a jail term of up to one year or a fine of up to RM2,000, or both upon conviction.
Southern scuffle: Chua (left) and Suresh appearing at the Magistrate’s Court in Johor Baru to face charges resulting from two public brawls between them on Sunday. — Bernama
The court set bail at RM5,000 with one Malaysian surety for each of the accused, and set Jan 27 for next mention.
At a separate courtroom, Suresh pleaded guilty to a charge of hurting Chua at a shopping mall in Jalan Serigala here at 5.17pm on Dec 21.
Magistrate Nabilah Nizam ordered Suresh to pay a fine of RM1,500 for the offence.
Previously, a video clip of the shopping mall brawl was widely shared, showing the suspects throwing punches at each other.
While fighting, the group also struck and damaged retail signage in front of some stores.
The fight allegedly broke out after the wife of one of the suspects called out the other suspect for running into and spilling beer on her.
This led to a fight, which required police intervention.
Later on the same day, while one of the suspects was filing a report at the police station, the other suspect attacked him, leading to another fight, said the police.
