Nine secret society members jailed 16 months each
GEORGE TOWN: Nine out of 27 individuals charged with becoming members of an organised criminal group known as “Geng 24 Pulau Pinang” pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 16 months jail each by the High Court here yesterday.
Judicial Commissioner Datuk Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh handed down the sentence after they pleaded guilty to an amended charge with becoming members of an unlawful society, made under Section 43 of the Societies Act 1966.
The law provides an imprisonment for up to three years, or maximum fi ne of RM5,000, or both, upon conviction.
They were initially charged under Section 130V of the Penal Code with becoming members of an organised criminal group, which carry an imprisonment for up to 20 years upon conviction, and detained under the Security Offences ( Special Measures) Act 2012.
They are Chan Yi Heng, Hanry Tan Cheng Yu. Lim Boon Hooi, Yeong Kah Man, Yeoh Choon Hin, Yeoh Choon Hong, Tang Soon Poh, Teoh Chin Yeow and Teng Kok Loon. They are between 22 and 55 years old.
They were ordered to serve the jail sentence from the date of their arrest which was May 6 last year.
The other 18 accused pleaded not guilty to the amended charge and the court ordered the case to be transferred to the magistrate’s court.
According to the amended charge, they were alleged to become members of “Geng 24” which is an unlawful organisation, between Jan 1, 2015 and May 6, 2017.
Deputy public prosecutor Lim Cheah Yit prosecuted. — Bernama