JOHOR BARU: Six individuals, including a wheelchair-bound man, have been charged at the Sessions and Magistrate Courts here over their alleged involvement in the robbing of a Pakistani businessman late last month.
Muhammat Rashid Ismail, 30, who is paralysed and Shameem Begum Abdul Said, 53, who is the victim’s wife, were jointly charged in front of Sessions judge Datuk Che Wan Zaidi Che Wan Ibrahim here on Friday (March 6).
Shameem Begum pleaded guilty, while Muhammat Rashid pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out by a court interpreter.
They were jointly accused of conspiring to commit gang robbery at a parking area behind a bank in the Pasir Gudang Trade Centre at about noon on Feb 24.
The charge was framed under Section 120B(1) of the Penal Code, read together with Section 395 of the same Code, which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine upon conviction.
The court allowed bail of RM12,000 each with one local surety. Both accused were also ordered to report to the nearest police station once a month.
The case was fixed for mention on April 8 for submission of documents and for sentencing in the case of Shameem Begum.
In another Sessions Court before judge Mohd Zamir Suhaimee, three men claimed trial to charges related to the same robbery.
Emmirul Azim Samat, 30, faced two charges – dishonestly receiving stolen property and making preparations to commit gang robbery.
He was accused of keeping RM50,000 in cash belonging to the victim, where the charges were framed under Section 412 and Section 399 of the Penal Code, each of which provides for a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine upon conviction.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Syukri Mohamed Yusoff, 32, and Abdul Rahman Abd Rahim, 32, pleaded not guilty to jointly committing gang robbery against a businessman and fleeing with RM500,000 in cash.
They were charged under Section 395 of the Penal Code, which carries the same punishment upon conviction.
The court set April 14 for case mention and bail was set at RM18,000 for Emmirul Azim, while Muhammad Syukri and Abdul Rahman were each allowed bail of RM8,000, with one local surety each.
All three were ordered to surrender their passports, if any, report to the nearest police station monthly and refrain from interfering with prosecution witnesses.
In a separate Magistrate’s Court, Mohamad Taufiq Mohammad Jamil, 31, pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Azureen Sahira Sauffee Afandi to a charge of possessing an imitation firearm.
He was accused of keeping a silver imitation pistol resembling a Pietro Beretta in an office room in Taman Damansara Aliff, Tampoi, at about 11.05am on Feb 27.
The offence was charged under Section 36(1) of the Firearms Act 1960 and the court allowed bail of RM5,000 with one surety and set March 31 for case mention.
