KLANG: A 43-year-old father of six claimed trial at the Sessions Court here Friday (March 6) to a charge of possessing a pistol and ammunition without a valid permit last week.
The charge was read out in Tamil to security guard M. Saiman before judge Sharifah Hascindie Syed Omar.
He is accused of having in his possession a Marcas Registradas Smith & Wesson Springfield model pistol and four pieces of live ammunition without a valid permit.
Saiman, who was charged under Section 8 of the Firearms (Heavier Penalties) Act 1971, which provides for a prison sentence of not more than 14 years and six strokes of the cane, had allegedly committed the offence at a house in Taman Sentosa Ria here, at about 03.20pm on Feb 25.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Peh Fong Xi did not offer bail because Section 12(1) of the Firearms Act specifically states that bail cannot be allowed for a person charged with the offence.
Saiman’s defence counsels Muhamad Saifullah Muhamad Azmi and M. Partiben sought the court’s discretion in offering bail as the accused was asthmatic and required medical treatment.
The counsels mitigated that Saiman was not a flight risk and had no problems in reporting to the police station monthly.
They said Saiman, who earned RM2,200 a month as a security guard, had six children and a wife to support as well.
Sharifah Hascindie did not allow bail and said the Saiman’s medical needs will be taken care of by the Prisons Department.
She fixed April 27 for the case mention.
Saiman was also fined RM2,000 and ordered to serve six months in jail if he defaulted at a Magistrate’s Court here as well.
Magistrate Nor Azilah Mat imposed the sentence after Saiman pleaded guilty to intentionally causing injury to a man by punching him in the face on Feb 11.
