Four men charged with obstructing policeman near Slim River Toll Plaza

TANJUNG MALIM, Oct 20 -- Four men have been charged at the Magistrate's Court here today with obstructing a policeman from carrying out his duty near the Slim River Toll Plaza, on Friday.

However, no pleas were recorded from P. Panneerselvam, 32, S. Vijandran, 41, A. Sivakumar, 28, and R. Durai Raaj, 25, as they could not understand the charge read out to them in Bahasa Malaysia before magistrate Nurul Hidayah Ismail.

They were accused of intentionally obstructing a civil servant, Muhd Syahrul Azuwan Ab Manaf, from carrying out his duty as a policeman by not cooperating after being repeatedly warned to leave the location. 

The offence was allegedly committed by the roadside near Slim River Toll Plaza, Slim River-Tanjung Malim at about 3.30 am on Oct 16.

Panneerselvan, Durai Raaj and Sivakumar, who are tow truck workers while Vijandran who was unemployed, were also charged for failing to produce their identity cards at the same time and place.   

They were charged under Section 186 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same law which provides for a maximum jail term of two years or a maximum fine of RM10,000 or both, upon conviction.

 In the same proceeding, Durai Raaj was also charged with using criminal force by pushing Muhd Syahrul and unzipping his police vest, at the same place and time.

 For this offence, he was charged under Section 353 of the Penal Code which carries up to two years' imprisonment or a fine, or both, if convicted.

Nurul Hidayah allowed RM3,000 bail for each of them with one surety, with an additional RM2,500 for Durai Raaj’s bail for the second charge.

Deputy public prosecutor Nur Diyana Zubir prosecuted while all the accused were represented by lawyer A. Puvanasvary from the National Legal Aid Foundation. 

The court fixed Oct 26 for mention as well as to have a Tamil interpreter present. 

-- BERNAMA