SLIM RIVER: Four men were charged at the magistrate's court here today with obstructing a police officer from carrying out his duty near a toll plaza here on Friday.
However, pleas were not recorded from P. Panneerselvam, 32; S. Vijandran, 41; A. Sivakumar, 28, and R. Durai Raaj, 25, as they could not understand the charge read out to them in Bahasa Malaysia before magistrate Nurul Hidayah Ismail.
They were accused of purposely obstructing a civil servant, Corporal Muhd Syahrul Azuwan Ab Manaf, from carrying out his duty as a policeman.
They refused to cooperate after being repeatedly warned to disperse and failed to produce identity cards upon request.
The offence was committed by the roadside near Slim River Toll Plaza at 3.40am last Friday.
They were charged under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing civil servants from carrying out their duties which carries imprisonment of up to two months or fine up to RM10,000 or both.
Nurul Hidayah allowed RM3,000 bail for each of them with one surety and set Oct 26 for mention as well as to have a Tamil translator.
In the same proceeding, Duraj Raaj was also charged with using criminal force by pushing the body and unzipping the vest of Muhd Syahrul at the same place and time.
For this offence, he was charged under Section 353 of the Penal Code for using criminal force on a public servant in the execution of his duties which carries up to two years' imprisonment or fine of up to RM10,000, or both, upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Diyana Zubir prosecuted while all the accused were represented by the National Legal Aid Foundation.