PETALING JAYA: Three men claimed trial at the Sessions Court here on Tuesday (July 7) to a charge of setting fire to three cars belonging to the wife of social activist S. Chandrasegaran, also known as Cikgu Chandra, four months ago.
Tow truck driver A. Kumaran, 34, security guard S. Kisshen Nair, 30, and lorry driver P. Surendran, 37, entered their pleas after the charge was read to them before Judge Noor Ruzilawati Mohd Nor.
According to the charge, the trio are accused of jointly committing mischief by fire on a Perodua Bezza, a Perodua Viva and a Proton Ertiga belonging to M. Sri Uma Mahesvary, 50, resulting in an estimated loss of RM80,000.
The offence was allegedly committed at a house in Taman Kinrara, Puchong, at 3am on March 10.
The charge was framed under Section 435 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same code, which carries a prison sentence of up to 14 years and a possible fine upon conviction.
During the proceedings, Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurfadzlin Mahmad Zulhasnan suggested that the accused should not be granted bail as the offense is non-bailable and highly serious.
However, she said that if the court chose to offer bail, the prosecution proposed an amount of RM10,000 for each accused with one surety.
"This should include additional conditions, such as reporting to the nearest police station, a prohibition against tampering with witnesses, especially the victim, and surrendering their passports to the court," she said.
Defence lawyer Vinesh Segar, who represented all three accused alongside co-counsel Daneish Thayalan, pleaded for a minimum bail amount.
He argued that the accused were not flight risks and had consistently cooperated with the police since the beginning of the investigation.
"They are the sole breadwinners of their families and need to support their wives, children and parents," he said.
He added that while they sympathised with the incident that befell the victim, his clients maintained their innocence regarding the incident.
After hearing both sides, Noor Ruzilawati allowed each accused bail at RM8,000 with one surety, subject to the additional conditions requested by the prosecution.
The court fixed Aug 7 for mention.
The media previously reported on March 10 that three cars belonging to Cikgu Chandra were set on fire, believed to have been carried out by a group of unidentified men.
Prior to that, the home of the victim in Puchong was also allegedly attacked by a group of men, resulting in the windows of the house and car windshields being smashed.
The incident occurred just days after another independent preacher, Zamri Vinoth, was allegedly attacked by a group of men while inside his vehicle.
