GEORGE TOWN: Eleven men, including a college student and several delivery riders, were charged in the Magistrates’ Court here on Wednesday (Sept 9) with rioting while armed during a clash involving two Gang 04 groups in Air Itam last month.
The accused – Mohamad Nun Mohamad Jupri, 34; V. Rathakisnan, 22; M. Soman Sri, 19; G. Chad Sebastian, 19; Muhammad Haikal Muhammad Rafiq, 19; Elijah Yong, 19; Cheow Junnuo, 24; R. Divagar, 20; Muhammad Amirul Hafiz Abdullah, 21; Ng Chern Yeow, 24; and Tony Yen Chun Yun, 19 – were jointly charged under Section 148 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 120B of the same law.
They were accused of taking part in a riot while armed with dangerous objects or weapons that could be used to attack others in front of SJK(C) Kong Min Second Branch in Air Itam at about 2.45am on Aug 29.
Section 148 of the Penal Code covers rioting while armed with a deadly weapon or anything which, when used as a weapon, is likely to cause death, while Section 120B deals with criminal conspiracy.
All 11 pleaded not guilty to the charge.
They were represented by lawyers K. Mahendran and Sharmila Mogan, except Yen, a college student, who was represented by lawyer Edric Loo.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Siti Marissa Safina Saiful Adli proposed bail of RM10,000 for each accused.
Following mitigation, magistrate Noor Idayu Salim allowed bail of RM6,000 each with one surety.
All 11 were also ordered to report to the nearest police station once a month.
Noor Idayu fixed Oct 19 for submission of documents.
On Aug 29, the two groups clashed in an incident believed to have stemmed from a debt dispute following a meeting at a food court in Paya Terubong.
Initial investigations found that the armed brawl involved two primary targets, aged 17 and 25.
A vehicle was also allegedly used to ram one of the victims, causing injuries.
Police later arrested suspects aged between 16 and 33 in five raids across the state.
