KUANTAN: 15 individuals including Bentong member of parliament Wong Tack were fined between RM1,500 and RM1,600 by the Sessions Court, here, today, after they were found guilty for participating in an illegal protest gathering against the operations of Lynas Corporation Sdn Bhd (Lynas) four years ago.
Judge Datuk Unaizah Mohd delivered the punishment after the defence failed to raise reasonable doubt against the prosecution’s case.
Wong and nine others were fined RM1,500, in default of 30 days’ imprisonment if they failed to settle the amount.
Five others were fined RM1,600, in default of 40 days’ imprisonment if they failed to pay the amount after they were found guilty for using force to barge through a police blockade.
Wong, 59, along with nine others - Raymond Ng Abdullah, 43; Rapar Ahmad, 48; Ta Weng Seng, 43; Hew Kuan Yau, 48; Lee Khai Ming, 41; Tan Chee Hooi, 43; Zamri Zonal, 30; Thomas Wang, 59; and Chong Kong Yuen, 68 - were charged with participating in an unlawful gathering to protest against the operations of the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (Lamp) despite orders by Kuantan district police chief Assistant Commisioner Abdul Aziz Salleh to disperse.
The 10 were alleged to have committed the offence in Jalan Bandaran, Gebeng, between 4pm and 5.30pm on June 22, 2014.
Five others - Phua Kia Yaw, 47; Wong Chee Wen, 48; Wong Chee Wai, 39; Foong Poh Choo, 40; and Ho Kam Huat, 48, were charged with using force to barge through a police blockade at the same place and time.
Ho who faced a second charge of using criminal force to prevent a public servant from discharging his duties by kicking and scratching Detective Corporal Isaher @ Azhar Abd Hamid in an attempt to resist arrest at the same place and time was fined RM1,000, in default of 20 days imprisonment. They paid the fine.
Wong, who was the Himpunan Hijau leader and the others were first charged on July 9, 2014 before the trial began on March 21, 2016.
A total of 23 prosecution witnesses and 19 defence witnessess including a chemical engineering expert and public health expert were present during the hearing.
Counsel Mohd Haijan Omar who represented all the accused told the court that his clients were first-time offenders and fully cooperated over the last four years.
He said all the accused were sole bread-winners for their respective families and earned an income between RM800 and RM4,000 a month.
“Wong was recently voted as the Bentong member of parliament and the conviction today could cause problems to him and the results of the 14th General Election (GE14). He has not even taken the oath as the member of parliament,’ he said.
Haijan appealed the court to impose a good behavior bond on the accused or let them off with a minimum fine.
He told the court that his clients' action were not a “selfless act” as they feared the safety and health conditions of the people in Kuantan following the presence of the rare earth plant.
However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Faridz Gohim Abdullah urged for a deterrent punishment saying the incident had caused difficulties for the policemen, of which one of them sustained injuries.
“The group did not have permission to gather but police still allowed them before chaos started when they refused to listen to orders to disperse despite the group being given 10 minutes to do so,” he said.