Actor Farid claims trial to assault charges
> Accused of beating cop and civilian
PETALING JAYA: Popular actor and director Datuk Farid Kamil Zahari yesterday pleaded not guilty to four charges of causing hurt to a policeman and a civilian at a police station here last week.
Clad in a grey shirt and jeans, he appeared relaxed and managed a smile when he was surrounded by a horde of media personnel upon his arrival at 10.40am.
His wife, Datin Diana Danielle, a popular actress, was also present during the 15minute court proceedings.
Farid was charged under Section 323 of the Penal Code with assaulting police constable Mohamad Nizam Jamaluddin and civilian Ashraf Ahmad, which is punishable by a jail term of up to a year, a maximum fine of RM2,000, or both.
The actor was also charged with obstructing police in the execution of their duties, which is punishable under Section 353.
Prosecutors further proffered an additional charge for disorderly conduct under Section 90 of the Police Act, which carries a maximum sentence of six months’ imprisonment, a fine, or a combination of the two.
Farid is accused of committing the offences at the Kota Damansara police station at 1.20pm on Jan 11.
The actor was then granted bail at RM12,000 for all four charges.
Deputy public prosecutor Fazeedah Faik asked the court to set bail at RM20,000 for all charges.
However, Farid’s lawyer Athari Bahardin, pleading for minimum bail, said his client was the sole breadwinner for his family.
“He also has to support his elderly parents,” he said.
The court fixed March 5 for mention.