BALIK PULAU: Ten people involved in a brawl near an apartment in Bayan Lepas have pleaded guilty to rioting while eight others claimed trial before a Magistrate here.
Khairul Ezham Khairul Eddy, 20, Muhammad Syafril Haikal Mohd Fazli, 20, Muhammad Aliff Aliman Mazlan, 21, Mohammad Alif Ikhram Mohd Hashim, 23, Ahmad Afiifuddin Selamat, 25, Muhammad Asrul Nazrul Haizam, 22, Mohd Syafik Abdullah, 20, Nornikman Noor Din, 33, Nor Azira Zaidi, 40 and Ahmad Ameeruddin Selamat, 22, pleaded guilty to the charge before Magistrate Chia Huey Ting on Friday (Nov 29).
Those who claimed trial were Mohamed Ammar Mohamed Ghani, 19, Muhammad Aiman Ibrahim, 19, Aszaifudin Hamid Mohaideen, 19, Muhammad Nur Zuhairi Noordin, 19, Muhammad Adzlie Hakim Muhammad Nasir, 19, Muhamad Fahrein Addenan, 19, Alyssa Sofieya Mazlan, 19, and Muhammad Nor Isma Haikal Nor Ismadi, 20.
The 16 men and two women, aged between 19 and 40, were charged with unlawfully gathering at around 2.30am on Saturday (Nov 23) along Queens Water Front in Persiaran Bayan Indah, Bayan Lepas with the common intention to fight and behave in a hostile manner.
They were charged under Section 147 of the Penal Code for rioting, which carries a maximum jail term of two years, a fine, or both upon conviction.
Lawyer Edric Loo of the National Legal Aid Foundation, who represented the 18 accused, said most of his clients worked in factories or were still in college.
He said the 10 who pleaded guilty were remorseful and had saved the court time in doing so.
"I ask for a lenient fine based on their age and it being their first offence," he said.
DPP Lim Jin Hong said the incident took place in a public area where there are other residents and requested a decision that would be an example to others.
Chia then imposed a fine of RM800 on each of the 10 who pleaded guilty.
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She set bail at RM1,500 with one surety for each of the eight who pleaded not guilty.
In the same court, Nor Isma Haikal pleaded not guilty to a separate charge of intentionally causing injury to Khairul Ezham at the same place and time.
He was charged under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt, which carries a punishment of up to one year in jail, or a fine of up to RM2,000, or both.
Loo said Nor Isma Haikal works in a coffee shop and earns RM60 a day.
"I urge the court to set a nominal bail as it is imposed to ensure he attends court and not to punish him," he said.
Chia then set bail at RM1,500 with one surety and fixed case mention for Feb 26 on all nine charges.
At the Sessions Court, Nor Isma Haikal also claimed trial to a charge of voluntarily causing grievous hurt.
He was charged with deliberately causing serious injury to Aliff Aliman by using a helmet as a weapon at the same location and time.
He was charged under Section 326 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing grievous hurt.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years' jail, a fine, or caning.
Sessions judge Ahzal Fariz Ahmad Khairuddin set bail at RM8,000 with one surety and ordered Nor Isma Haikal to report to the nearest police station regularly, as well as not to contact the victim.
Ahzal then set Dec 19 for case mention.
It was reported earlier that police said a complainant said he saw his girlfriend talking to an unidentified man.
A minor squabble ensued between the complainant and the man but the girlfriend broke it up.
After the incident, the complainant contacted his friend and his mother to have a proper discussion with the girlfriend.
Balik Pulau OCPD Asst Comm Sazalee Adam said that when the man's mother and friend arrived to meet him, a group of about 10 men attacked the complainant with motorcycle helmets.
The complainant managed to escape and went to the police station to lodge a report.
