[Onthebarricades] MALAYSIA: Repression begins over anti-corruption unrest

[Andy]

Five years for sabotaging street signs?!

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Friday/National/20070928080113/Article/index_html

2007/09/28

BATU BURUK RIOT: First man charged claims trial 

      Khair Muzakkir Ali faces a maximum jail term of five years and a fine if found guilty of vandalising street signs in Jalan Sultan Mahmud. 


KUALA TERENGGANU: A 22-year-old unemployed man claimed trial at a magistrate's court here yesterday to committing mischief during the Batu Buruk riot on Sept 8. 

Khair Muzakkir Ali, from Jalan Sultan Mahmud here, is the first to be charged following the riot, which saw four policemen and three rioters injured. 

He was charged with vandalising street signs in Jalan Sultan Mahmud.

If convicted under Section 440 of the Penal Code, he faces a maximum jail term of five years and a fine.

Khair also claimed trial to failing to produce an identity card to Chief Inspector Norizan Jusoh.



If convicted under Rule 25 (1)(n) of the National Registration Rules 1990, he could be fined a maximum of RM20,000 or a maximum jail term of three years or both. 

ASP Wan Razali Hassan prosecuted, while Khair was represented by Fathi Aziz Abu Bakar.

Magistrate Nariman Badruddin set bail at RM2,500 and RM1,000 for the first and second charges respectively, in one surety. 

She also fixed trial for Feb 24. 

In the incident, riots broke out around 10.15pm after police attempted to disperse a crowd of 600 who turned up for a ceramah.

The ceramah was organised by the Coalition for Clean & Fair Elections (Bersih), with speakers including Keadilan secretary-general Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, Pas activist Muhammad Sabu and DAP representative Leong Ngah Ngah.

The riot caused damages estimated at RM500,000. 

Meanwhile, a 15-year-old wanted by police in relation to the burning of the Jalur Gemilang is believed to have fled the state.

Police have already identified the teenager and even published his picture in major dailies, but he has not surrendered. 

The youth, a Form 3 student from here, is also said to have been absent from classes since his picture was published on Sept 15.

State police chief SAC I Datuk Ayub Yaakub, however, is still urging the boy to turn himself in.

"He is supposed to sit for his Penilaian Menengah Rendah examinations, but he has failed to attend classes. We believe he is staying at a relative's house outside Terengganu.

"He has no reason to be concerned as all we want from him is a statement. 

"We don't want him to fail his exam as we understand that he is an intelligent lad and active in school.

"He may have been influenced to attend the gathering," he said. 

Ayub said to date, seven students four of whom are from secondary schools and the other three from instutions of higher learning, were among the 18 who have turned themselves in.

Police are still looking for another 28 people, including several students, whose photographs were published in the newspapers following the riot.

Ayub added that police have fowarded four investigation papers, including one relating to the police officer who fired warning shots hitting two rioters, to Bukit Aman and the Attorney-General's Chambers

He reiterated his stand that police were not involved in the flag burning as claimed by some quarters. 
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