2 friends charged with committing mischief to set fire to mini market

KUALA LUMPUR: Two men were charged in separate courts here yesterday with committing mischief by splashing petrol at a mini market to intimidate and rob an employee at the premises shop last month.

Both of them, lorry drivers N Manimohan, 23, and K Jegan, 21, who are friends pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In the Sessions Court before judge Mohamad Kamil Nizam, the two men were jointly charged with committing mischief by fire whereby they were alleged to have splashed petrol on the Aliza Resources Snd Bhd mini market in Pandan Jaya at 8 pm last Oct 19.

They were charged under Section 436 of the Penal Code, read with Section 511 and Section 34 of the same law and face imprisonment up to 20 years and fine if found guilty.

Mohamad Kamil allowed them bail of RM9,000 with one surety each and ordered the two men to report to the nearest police station once every month and not intimidate the witness.

Deputy public prosecutor MS Arunjothy prosecuted in the case. The court set Dec 5 for mention. In the magistrate’s court before Magistrate Mohamad Firdaus Sadina Ali, Manimohan pleaded not guilty to criminal intimidation by threatening to ‘cut and kill’ the shop employee who is a Bangladeshi national.

The charge under Section 506 of the Penal Code provides for imprisonment up to seven years or fine, or both if found guilty.

Meanwhile, Jegan was charged with attempting to rob another mini market employee who is also a Bangladeshi national at the same place, time and date.

He also pleaded not guilty to the charge made under Section 393 of the Penal Code which provides for an imprisonment up to seven years and fine if found guilty.

Mohamad Firdaus allowed Manimohan and Jegan bail of RM3,000 and RM5,000 in one surety, respectively, and also ordered them not to intimidate the witnesses.

The court also set Dec 5 for mention.

Deputy public prosecutor Norhashimah Hashim prosecuted. — Bernama