Pasar malam trader charged with torching mufti’s car

KANGAR: A pasar malam trader was charged in a Sessions Court here with allegedly torching the official car of Perlis Mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin as police continue to track down one more suspect.

The accused, Mohd Azimar Abdul Razak Azimar, 36, from Kampung Jelempok, Arau, was charged with committing the offence along with several others with the intention of causing damage to the vehicle at the mufti’s home in Jalan Pesiaran Wawasan here at about 5am on March 22.

The offence is punishable under Section 435 of the Penal Code which was read together with Section 34.

Mohd Azimar now faces up to 14 years in jail and a fine.

Mohd Azimar, who was represented by a counsel from the National Legal Aid Foundation, Najdah Romli, pleaded not guilty before judge Ainul Shahrin Mohamad.

The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurshuhada Mohd Yatim, who urged the court not to grant bail as the case was of public interest and that the vehicle belonged to the state government. She said there was also a risk for Mohd Azimar to repeat his action as well as a risk to his own safety as the case had gone viral.

However, Najdah urged for bail as Mohd Azimar had two children, aged nine and 11 years, and was supporting his 46-year-old sister who had a stroke.

Ainul Shahrin allowed a RM8,000 bail with one surety and ordered Mohd Azimar to report to the investigating officer on the first of every month and to stay away from the victim, his family or close family members.

She then set July 2 for mention.