Datuk denies joining ‘Gang 360 Devan’

KUALA LUMPUR: A “datuk” and 35 members of “Gang 360 Devan’’ pleaded not guilty in the High Court yesterday to being part of an organised crime group.

They included politician Datuk M. Kalai Arasu, 45; M. Mohan, 34; P. Subramaniam, 54; S. Ravindran, 37; S. Raman, 62; R.P. Rajendran, 48; E. Shamuganathan, 45; A. Karpanah, 57; J.J. Vignasevaran, 42; R. Premraj, 37; V. Arivalagan, 42; R. Suresh Kumar, 39; M. Thananbalan, 41; M. Kalimuthu, 28; M. Saravanan, 37; and R. Sunderan, 61.

The other accused are A. Erathai Pragash, 49; T. Ravendaran, 30; M. Danes, 25; S. Sivaneswaran, 25; V. Vigny Alfred Raj, 29; R. Subramaniam, 37; R. Kannan, 33; M. Saravanan, 37; M. Jayakumar, 36; P. Karthik, 31; S. Krishna, 34; Abdullah Sritharan, 32; R. Yogendran, 30; Mohd Sarif Abdul Karim, 31; M.Paramuguru, 40; K. Alagasuveeran, 41; R. Sathies, 32; B. Letchumanan, 31; Muhammad Rushlan Abdullah, 44; and R. Elanggo Naidu, 31.

They claimed trial after the charge was read out to them before judge Datuk Nordin Hassan, who then set July 24 to 28 for hearing of the case.

They are alleged to have committed the offence at Empayer Sdn Bhd, No. 1, Jalan Perniagaan Masria 1, Pusat Perniagaan Masria, Batu 9 in Cheras between Jan 1, 2015 and Feb 7 this year.

The offence under Section 130V(1) of the Penal Code provides for a jail term of up to 20 years.

The men, who were arrested under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) 2012 that does not allow for bail, are being held at the Sungai Buloh Prison.

DPP Mohamad Mustaffa P. Kunyalam appeared for the prosecution while Datuk Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin, Chan Choon Yu and A. Vasudevan represented the accused. – Bernama