KLANG: Jaringan Melayu Malaysia president Datuk Azwanddin Hamzah was charged with criminal intimidation and intentional insult against a police officer and a civilian at the magistrate’s court here.
The 46-year-old, who is also Gagasan Tiga adviser, pleaded not guilty to both charges, under Sections 506 and 504 of the Penal Code, respectively, at separate courts.
Azwanddin was first charged with Section 506 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation before magistrate Solehah Noratikah Ismail.
He was alleged to have criminally intimidated Assistant Superintendent Harun Abu Bakar in Dataran Seni off Jalan Melayu in Pusat Bandar Klang on Dec 25 last year about 6.15pm.
Azwanddin was believed to have committed the act on Harun, who was the Bandar Baru Klang police station chief, by threatening to attack the Klang police station.
If found guilty, Azwanddin faces a jail term of up to seven years, a fine or both.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Fairuz Johari offered bail of RM15,000 with one surety.
Azwanddin’s counsel Izzat Muhtar asked for a minimal bail as his client has a wife who is unemployed and four children, the eldest being a disabled and the youngest aged just 10.
“There is no reason for my client to abscond. He was asked to attend the proceedings yesterday and he has given his cooperation throughout his arrest and today.
“I ask that the bail amount to be minimal. As a NGO leader and a politician, there is possibility that this case may affect his reputation and integrity,” said Izzat.
Solehah then set bail at RM8,000 with one surety and ordered Azwanddin to report to the nearest police station once a month until the case concludes.
Solehah also allowed Fairuz’s application for the case to be heard at another magistrate’s court where Azwanddin faced the second charge before Muhammad ‘Azzam Zainal Abidin.
At the other court, Azwanddin was charged with intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of the peace under Section 504 of the Penal Code.
He was alleged to have committed the act at the same time, date and place as the first offence, to intentionally humiliate and causing anger to one Arumugam Dorasamy, knowing that it may disrupt public order.
If found guilty, Azwanddin faces a jail term of up to two years, a fine or both.
Fairuz offered bail of RM15,000 with one surety after which ‘Azzam set bail at RM5,000.
The magistrate then set May 24 for mention of both cases.
In December last year, Azwanddin was arrested and investigated for allegedly making a fiery speech to attack the Klang police station during a rally in Klang to demand justice for the fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim, who died after a rioting incident in Subang Jaya. and the sacking of National Unity and Social Well-being Minister P. Waytha Moorthy.