GEORGE TOWN: Two road users pleaded guilty while another two claimed trial on charges of obstructing civil servants from performing their duties.
The incident took place following an accident at the junction of Jalan Sri Tanjung in Tanjung Tokong, here, last Sunday.
The accused Shahrizal Anuar, 38 and Mohd Safwan Akbar, 29, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Rosnee Mohd Radzuan at the George Town Magistrate's Court, here, today.
Another two accused Mohd Hafiz Nasri Shah, 28, and Mohd Danial Al Arabia Mohd Rafi, 24, however, claimed trial on the same charges.
According to the charge-sheet they were accused of using criminal force by provoking three policemen on Jan 17 at 5.40pm at the Jalan Tanjung Tokong traffic light junction, here.
They were charged under Section 353 of the Penal Code which was read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which if convicted can result in two years' imprisonment or a fine of up to RM10,000 or both.
The court set Jan 25 as the sentencing date for Shahrizal and Mohd Safwan, whereas it set Feb 25 for the submission of documents and the appointment of lawyers for Mohd Hafiz and Mohd Danial Al Arabia.
The Court set a RM6,000 bail in one surety for each of the accused.
The four together with three others Azizul Mohamad, 45; Mohd Idris Ayob, 25, and Danish Ikmal Mohd Shafiq Samugam, 20, also pleaded guilty before the same Magistrate to charges of violating the Movement Control Order (MCO) at the same location and time.
They were charged with committing an offence under Rule 16 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures Within Local Area of Infection (Movement Control) Regulations 2021, which provides for a maximum RM1,000 fine or a maximum jail term of six months or both if convicted.
The court set Jan 25 as the sentencing date and bail of RM2,000 in one surety was imposed on all
the accused.
Siti Hajar Jaafar was the Public Prosecutor while only Danish Ikmal was represented by a lawyer, Mohd Rafiee Noordin, whereas the others were unrepresented.
It was reported that police detained the seven men following an incident in which law enforcement personnel were surrounded and verbally abused after a road accident.
The group had accused the police's motorcycle patrol unit (URB) of purposely kicking a motorcycle which two youths were riding on, resulting in the duo sustaining injuries after falling off their machine.
The group had also provoked three URB personnel by uttering vulgarities in the 5.20pm incident.
Footage of the incident has since found its way onto social media, where netizens slammed the group for their actions. The two injured youths are also seen in the video clip.
One of the youths has since denied that the police had kicked their motorcycle.
Following the accident, police received a report from a motorist.
Initial investigations showed that three URB personnel from the district police headquarters were patrolling Jalan Sri Tanjung Pinang when they spotted the youths, without helmets, on a motorcycle.
Police ordered them to stop, but they refused to and sped off.
The URB personnel gave chase, and when they approached the Tesco Tanjung Tokong traffic light junction, the youths ran the red light.
As a result, they collided with a car, driven by a man, who was heading towards Tanjung Bungah from George Town.
Due to the impact of the crash, the duo fell off the motorcycle and sustained injuries.
The car's front bonnet and bumper were dented, and one of its lights broken.