KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here has imposed an additional 10 months’ imprisonment on 33 men who gatecrashed an entertainment outlet in Taman Shamelin earlier this month.
Justice Aslam Zainuddin meted out the sentence during a review filed by the prosecution over the Magistrate’s Court decision last week to fine the men between RM2,000 and RM3,000.
"The court orders the imprisonment to run from the date of sentencing," Justice Aslam said on Tuesday (April 21).
On April 10, the Magistrate’s Court fined 32 men RM3,000 each, in default four months’ jail, and two young offenders aged 19 RM2,000 each, in default three months’ jail, after they pleaded guilty to participating in a riot while armed with weapons, ammunition, explosives, sticks and stones that could be used in an attack.
The incident took place at the entertainment premises in Cheras at about 7.30pm on April 5.
They were charged under Section 148 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both, upon conviction.
The accused, aged 21 to 57, are Tan Chee Chin, G. Bathmanathan, M. Kogilan, Lim Puay Fei, Kevin Yong Kai Wen, Ong Zhi Jian, Looi Khai Xuan, Voison Chor, Tan Jun Ning, Hee Tuck Choy, Ching Thong Hai, Kee Jin Xuan, Lim Teong Yow, Chan Kuang Man and Ho Chee Seong.
Also in the group are Wong Chee Siong, Liang Chung Weng, G. Srikanth, Lee Ming Choong, Wong Wai Khuen, Khor Ka Lok, Ong Zheng Yuan, Yam Hao Jie, Lim Jia Cheng, Chai Chun You, Kher Kuan Heng, Ong Aik Chim, Chong Khai Jun, Hadzrin Julasrin, Lee Tuck Wah and Chin Chin Chung, while the young offenders are Alvin Yong Kai Zhe and Chong Yu Heng.
All of them had paid the fine.
The court also issued a warrant of arrest against A. Ganesan, who did not pay the fine and failed to appear in court on Tuesday.
Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Mohd Nordin Ismail told the court that the Magistrate’s Court decision to only fine the men had been the subject of public dispute.
He said the men had attacked the entertainment premises in a large group and that imposing only a fine was insufficient to reflect the gravity of the offence.
Lawyer Damien Chan, who represented the men, said nobody was injured during the incident.
"They only damaged property and had pleaded guilty at the first instance.
"They are truly remorseful over what happened," he added.
According to the statement of facts, police received a report on April 5 regarding an incident in which a lorry rammed into the front gate of the entertainment outlet.
A group of men then entered the premises and damaged property within the compound. Investigations found that the suspects were armed during the attack.
A minute-long video of the incident also went viral, showing a lorry crashing through the main gate of the KTV outlet before the group entered through the breach carrying various objects.
