Alleged attacker of rep’s brother-in-law claims trial
SIBU: A 36-year- old man accused of injuring one of Pelawan assemblyman David Wong’s brothers-in-law pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here yesterday to a charge of voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons.
Choo King Ming faces the charge under Section 326 of the Penal Code, which provides for up to 20 years in prison and a fine or caning.
He allegedly injured Wong Kwong Sian, 45, on Feb 1 at around 1.30pm at the five-footway at Tanah Wang Commercial Centre.
A warrant of arrest was issued for Choo yesterday morning, after he failed to show up at the Sessions Court to answer the charge.
However, the warrant was cancelled when Choo surrendered at a police station in the afternoon and was subsequently produced in the Sessions Court.
His counsel, Ben Lau, told the court there was mis communication between the magistrates’ court and the accused.
According to Lau, Choo was present at a magistrates’ court in the morning to face a charge of failing to produce his identity card to the police when asked.
The court discharged him not amounting to acquittal.
“There and then, he was informed by the court interpreter that he was free to go. He was not aware of the voluntarily causing hurt case,” Lau told the court, adding that Choo did not abscond.
He said the accused had later gone to the police station voluntarily, and had apologised to the court.
Sessions Court Judge Caroline Bee Majanil released Choo on RM5,000 bail with two local sureties, and order him to report to the police station once a month.
The court fixed April 4 for pretrial case management.