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    27 July 2012| last updated at 01:49AM

    Magistrate ticks off two charged with theft

    By Rita Jong

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    KLANG: A magistrate yesterday ticked off two accused who were charged with theft for wasting his time after they failed to appoint counsel for their trial.

     The scolding took place when lorry attendant Shah-Ul-Hamid Mohamed and labourer R. Kalasukanthiran told magistrate Hurman Hussein that they have yet to appoint counsel.
     Shah-Ul-Hamid told Hurman he had met a lawyer but the latter had asked him for a photocopy of his identification card. The accused could not give him the photocopy as he is currently being held under remand.
     "Who is this clever lawyer of yours? Doesn't he know you are still in detention? How did he expect you to photocopy your IC?"
     Shah-Ul-Hamid said he asked his family members to do it for him and asked the court for two more weeks to settle the matter.   
     At this point, Hurman scolded both accused.
     "I have given you two months. What can you not do in two months which you can do in two weeks?" he asked.
     "Do you need to come to court and make me scold you for motivation?"
     Hurman said he had been fair but the accused had wasted his time, and that was why they deserved a "lecture".
     "It is your right to claim trial. I had given you time to appoint a lawyer, I had also given you the number to contact for legal aid services," said Hurman.
     "How long do you want me to wait? I don't care. I'm here, doing my job and getting a salary at the end of the month. But you are still in lock-up and your case is still not over yet.
     "Did you pay your lawyer?"
     Shah-Ul-Hamid remained quiet.
     Hurman then continued: "Appointing a lawyer is like dining in Pizza Hut. You need to pay for your meal," he said.
     Shah-Ul-Hamid said he would contact his relatives to talk to the lawyer.
     Hurman then fixed Aug 10 for mention.
     Shah-Ul-Hamid, 28, and Kalasukanthiran, 37, were charged with stealing 25 iron jack base scaffoldings worth RM625 belonging to Century Construction Sdn Bhd at a construction site in Bandar Parklands here on May 20.

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