PETALING JAYA: Three men were charged at the Sessions Court yesterday with armed gang robbery against a policeman.

Car salesman Ng Heng Wai, 23, unemployed Choong Yee Chong, 25, contractor Tan Wee Li, 25, claimed trial to robbing Lance Corporal Helmie Ahmad, 29, at a hair salon in Serdang Perdana.

The trio allegedly robbed the policeman of his Sony Ericsson handphone, RM250, his police authority card, two ATM cards and his driving licence, at 5.27pm on July 4.

Helmie was one of the customers at the hair salon, waiting for his turn for a haircut, when the three men barged in armed with two parang.

Assistant public prosecutor Nor Shamsinar Mohamad proposed RM10,000 bail each.
Ng's counsel, Joshua Kevin, in pleading for a lower amount, said his client had to bear high medical costs for his arm injury.

Ng caught everyone's attention at the courtroom when he was brought in with a cast on his right arm. It is believed that police shot Ng during the incident.

Choong's counsel Leong Khai Yan also pleaded for a lower amount, saying that Choong's parents were vegetable sellers in the Cheras market.

Tan did not have a lawyer.

Judge Balqis Aini Mohd Ali granted the trio RM4,000 bail each in one surety and fixed Aug 22 for mention to allow Tan to appoint a lawyer.