PETALING JAYA: Patrick Khoo Kian Wui, a 69-year-old senior citizen who was involved in a tussle with Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) enforcers during a stray dog round-up, has been charged with obstructing a public servant from discharging his duty.
Dressed in a dark grey collared shirt and pants, Khoo appeared calm and composed at the dock when the charge under Section 186 of the Penal Code was read out to him before Magistrate Shahril Anuar Ahmad Mustapa.
Khoo pleaded not guilty and claimed trial to the charge, which noted that he deliberately obstructed Azizul Azzim Norehan, a civil servant from MBPJ, from performing his duties.
Khoo was represented by lawyers Rajsurian Pillai and Tay Chee Fu, while Deputy Public Prosecutor Farhanah Fuad prosecuted.
According to the charge sheet, Khoo committed the offence on March 22 at about 9pm at 7, Jalan 18/17, Taman Kanagapuram in Petaling Jaya.
The offence carries a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment, a maximum fine of RM10,000, or both.
During the proceedings, Farhanah suggested a bail of RM5,000.
However, Rajsurian pleaded for the lowest bail possible or either RM500 or RM1,000, an amount sufficient to ensure Khoo's attendance in future court proceedings and not as a punishment.
Khoo, who is self-employed and lives alone, had been cooperative with the police throughout the course of investigations up to the court proceedings today, he added.
He said Khoo had gone to the Petaling Jaya district headquarters to meet with the investigating officer (IO) without being forced and he was never arrested.
"Today, he is here at the court to face the charge after being told by the IO (to do so). He lives just 4km away from the court.
"He is innocent until proven guilty. He has a bail provider, a friend, who can ensure he attends court proceedings," said Rajsurian.
Shahril Anuar then set bail at RM2,000 with one surety.
He also set June 16 for mention.
The bail was posted at around noon.
Khoo's tussle with MBPJ dogcatchers surfaced after Facebook user Rekha Morgan shared her account of the incident along with videos and pictures.
Several videos showed Khoo trying to get the dogs into his factory premises at Jalan 18/17 Taman Kanagapuram.
Khoo alleged that he was roughed up and had injuries to his jaw, cheeks, and a cut on his wrist when confronted by an enforcer armed with a dog-catching iron rod.
On March 24, Khoo lodged a police report against MBPJ for alleged assault and fear for the welfare of two of his dogs and a puppy which were taken away.
Khoo claimed that he was at the premises around 8pm when he heard the dogs that were guarding the property barking and he saw an unfamiliar group of men in uniform with a truck.
He said that the group did not say anything and had attacked him for defending his dogs and that it was his first encounter with such an incident involving council officers.
Rekha claimed that the officers had forced the situation to escalate to violence. In response, MBPJ lodged a police report and pledged no cover-up in the incident and had set up an internal investigating committee.
Petaling Jaya Member of Parliament Lee Chean Chung had also demanded an explanation from MBPJ's Integrity Unit and its standard operating procedure (SOP) on dog-catching operations.
On Wednesday, Petaling Jaya police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohamad Fakhrudin Abdul Hamid said Khoo would be charged in the Petaling Jaya magistrate's court under Section 186 of the Penal Code.
He said their probe showed the tussle broke out and Khoo was accidentally hit by a dog-catching iron rod.