GEORGE TOWN: Three assistant marketing executives claimed trial to charges of voluntarily causing hurt with a dangerous weapon at the Magistrate's Court here.
The men, Koay Beng Ghee, Teh Eng Tat, both 36, and Ng Weng Kooi, 41, pleaded not guilty to the charge before Magistrate Nadratun Naim Mohd Saidi on Tuesday (Dec 24).
Based on the charge sheet they were jointly charged with injuring Beh Hong Shien, 37, with a metal rod with the intention to hurt him.
It read that the trio and another man who is still at large, injured Beh by using a metal rod that caused injury with the consensus of hurting the victim on Oct 22 this year at 9.50am along Jalan Karpal Singh in George Town, Penang.
They were charged under Section 324 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt with the use of a dangerous weapon or means.
The charge was read with Section 109 of the same law punishable with imprisonment of up to 10 years or a fine or whipping, or any of the two.
Deputy Public Prosecutor M. Darrshini prosecuted while the trio were represented by counsel Md Yusuf Md Idris.
Darrshini asked the court to set bail at RM9,000 for each of the accused.
“We also request the court to set an additional condition, that the accused do not approach the victim or any of the prosecution witnesses,” she added.
Md Yusuf told the court that his clients only earned RM2,000 a month and are sole breadwinners of their respective families.
“Irrespective of the status of the accused, the principle is that they are deemed innocent until otherwise proven in court.
“The purpose of the bail is not to punish but to secure attendance in court," he said.
He then proposed the court to set bail at RM3,000.
Nadratun then set bail at RM7,000 with one surety and fixed Jan 13, next year for mention pending submission of documents.
She said the accused were also not allowed to approach the victim and the prosecution witnesses.
It was reported in October this year that the victim, a lawyer, was attacked by unknown assailants wielding metal rods, leaving him with serious injuries to the head and shin.