JOHOR BARU: Four people, including an underage boy, have claimed trial at the Magistrate's Court here to charges of negligent conduct involving fireworks.
The accused, P. Ruban, 20, S. Tharun, 18, H. Periuthiv, 19, and a 16-year-old boy, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read out in separate courts before magistrates A. Shaarmini, Atifah Hazimah Wahab, Nurzihan Abdul Rehman and Nur Fatin Mohamad Farid.
According to the charge sheets, the four allegedly committed a negligent act involving an explosive substance, namely fireworks, by setting them off towards a road where other vehicles were present, potentially endangering others.
They were accused of committing the offence at about 1.30am on Nov 8 along Jalan Skudai-Gelang Patah, near the traffic lights at Taman Nesa.
They were charged under Section 286 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail term of six months, a fine of up to RM2,000, or both, upon conviction for the three adults.
Meanwhile, the underage accused may face a fine, a good behaviour bond, a community service order or placement in an approved school or Henry Gurney School. The court may also discharge him with a warning.
Ruban was allowed bail of RM3,000, Tharun RM2,000, Periuthiv RM2,500 and the underage accused RM1,500, with one surety each.
The magistrates set Dec 3 for the next mention of the cases for document submission.
Meanwhile, two others involved in the same incident were charged under Section 48(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for riding their motorcycles in circles at a traffic light junction, potentially endangering other road users and obstructing traffic.
The accused, Muhammad Irsyad, 19, and M. Rubenkumar, 23, also pleaded not guilty when their charges were read out before Nur Fatin.
The court allowed bail of RM2,500 with one surety each and set Dec 11 for the next mention.
It was previously reported that police were tracking down a group of men who allegedly set off fireworks on a main road near the Taman Nesa traffic light junction in Skudai.
Four of the suspects were arrested on Sunday (Nov 8), while three others were arrested on Tuesday (Nov 10).
One of the seven suspects was later released on police bail.
