Saturday February 2, 2008
Hindraf 66 plead not guilty to unlawful assembly charge
SHAH ALAM: Sixty-six Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) supporters, who had been charged at the Selayang magistrate's court with unlawful assembly in Batu Caves, pleaded not guilty to the same charge at a Sessions Court here yesterday.
Their cases, including that of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) supreme council member N. Gobalakrishnan, was transferred to the Sessions Court here for a joint trial with another case involving two charges of damaging seven vehicles and two gates of the Sri Subramaniar temple in Batu Caves on Nov 25.
Prior to this, the Selayang magistrate's court had charged the accused separately.
All the accused, aged between 20 and 56, also face alternative charges of displaying a show of criminal force to instil fear in police who were discharging their duties at the assembly.
Several of them were among 25 individuals charged on Dec 17 last year for damaging the seven vehicles and two gates of the temple during the assembly.
Judge Azimah Omar fixed March 4 for mention after being informed by lead counsel G. K. Ganesan that he would be submitting representations to the Attorney-General Tan Sri Gani Patail on the charges faced by the accused.
He also asked that the RM500 bail that was fixed by the Selayang magistrate's court be maintained, and asked for the elimination of the condition that the accused must report at the nearest police station every month.
Ganesan told the court that because the Selayang magistrate's court failed to provide letters to the accused, they received conflicting directives from the police, including having to submit photographs and to report only during office hours.
Azimah said that documents to validate the bail were sufficient.
“But I cannot just drop the order issued by the Selayang magistrate's court. This can cause administrative problems later,” she said.
Ganesan agreed with her after prosecution head Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden promised to help solve the matter.
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