34 ordered back to court after being fined for rioting with weapons

34 ordered back to court after being fined for rioting with weapons

High Court judge orders revision hearing to determine correctness and legality of sentencing by magistrate.

Cheras KTV attack
Thirty-two of the accused were fined RM3,000 each by the Kuala Lumpur magistrates’ court on the rioting charge, while another two teenagers were fined RM2,000 each for the same offence.
KUALA LUMPUR:
The High Court here has ordered 34 men, who were fined after pleading guilty to rioting with weapons at an entertainment outlet in Cheras, to attend a revision hearing next week.

Justice Aslam Zainuddin made the order today pending his determination on the correctness, legality, and propriety of the magistrate’s sentencing decision.

The revision is being conducted under Section 323 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Counsel Ariffin Abdul Wahab said he would notify the men to appear in court on April 21.

Deputy public prosecutor Faridah Nurdhinie Bahrum appeared for the prosecution.

On Friday, the magistrates’ court fined 32 people RM3,000 each after they pleaded guilty to the charge.

The court also fined two 19-year-old teenagers RM2,000 each for the same offence.

The 34, aged between 19 and 57, were charged with being in possession of various weapons, including firearms, ammunition, explosive and flammable substances, and sticks and stones, which could be used to carry out attacks, at an entertainment outlet in Cheras on April 5.

The charge was framed under Section 148 of the Penal Code, which provides for a penalty of up to five years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both, upon conviction.

The motive for the offence was not established in court. However, media reports said the incident could have stemmed from a dispute between the owner and his competitors.

Stay current - Follow FMT on WhatsApp, Google news and Telegram

Subscribe to our newsletter and get news delivered to your mailbox.