BUKIT MERTAJAM: A Magistrate's Court here on Tuesday (Nov 10) fixed Dec 18 for the submission of documents and case management involving three Myanmar boys accused of threatening an 71-year-old woman in Taman Sri Rambai.
The three children, aged between 11 and 12 years old, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out to them in Myanmarese before Magistrate Roshayati Radellah.
According to the charge, the boys allegedly acted together to commit criminal intimidation by threatening to harm the 71-year-old woman using several objects, including a mop, an iron, a fluorescent light and a stone.
The incident allegedly took place in front of a house along Binjai 14, Taman Sri Rambai, at about 6pm on Oct 22.
They were charged under Section 506 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same code, which carries a maximum jail term of two years, a fine, or both upon conviction.
The three boys were initially charged with the same offence on Oct 30, and the case was mentioned again Tuesday with the assistance of a Myanmar interpreter.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Zulfadli Hassan handled the prosecution, while the accused were represented by S. Sagthiyaraj from the Penang Legal Aid Centre.
Speaking to reporters outside the court, Sagthiyaraj said the Bukit Mertajam Magistrate's Court had initially denied bail. However, the Butterworth High Court on Oct 30 subsequently allowed each accused to be released on bail of RM4,000, with their parents acting as sureties.
He said the decision followed a review of the children's detention after they were sent to a correctional centre following the initial court proceedings.
"The review was sought due to alleged irregularities in complying with Section 84 of the Child Act 2001, which provides that children accused of criminal offences, except murder, should be granted bail in the presence of their parents or guardians," he said.
He added that the three boys were released on bail at about 7.45pm on the same day after the High Court allowed their applications.
All three accused are still attending a school run by a non-governmental organisation (NGO). - Bernama
