BUTTERWORTH: A factory worker was charged with three counts of possessing an improvised explosive device (IED), an imitation pistol and a sickle-shaped knife (kerambit) at the Sessions and Magistrate's Courts here today.
Bonny Anak Tigong, 32, claimed trial to the offences before Sessions Court Judge Noor Aini Yusof and Magistrate Siti Zulaikha Nordin.
Bonny uttered "faham dan minta bicara" (I understand the charge and claim trial) when asked how he pleads in both cases.
In Magistrate Siti Zulaikha's court, Bonny faces two counts of having in his possession an IED explosive and an imitation wooden grip pistol.
Meanwhile, in the Sessions Court, he faces one count of having in his possession the sickle-shaped knife.
He is alleged to have committed the offences at the Taman Pandan Flats in Mak Mandin between 6.30pm and 7.35pm last Sunday (Oct 8).
He was charged under Section 8 of the Explosives Act 1957, Section 36 of the Arms Act 1960 and Section 7(1)(a) of the Corrosive, Explosion Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958.
Deputy Public Prosecutors Asma Amira Shahidani and Mohammad Syafiq Nasrullah Saleem Ali prosecuted while Bonny was represented by the National Legal Aid Foundation (YBGK) in Siti Zulaikha's court.
Asma Amira asked for bail to be set at RM10,000 and RM5,000 for each of the charges while Syafiq did not offer any bail.
In the Magistrate's Court, Bonny, through the YBGK, told the court that he earned RM70 a day working in the factory and had his parents to care for.
In Noor Aini's Sessions Court, Bonny told the court that he had someone to bail him out.
Judge Noor Aini set bail at RM7,000 with one surety and fixed Nov 16 for mention for submission of documents and for Bonny to appoint a lawyer.
Magistrate Siti Zulaikha set bail at RM5,000 and RM3,000 with one surety each for the respective charges. She also fixed Nov 16 for mention.
It was reported that a local man and a foreign woman were detained by police following an explosion at a unit in the Taman Pandan Flats last Sunday (Oct 8).
The housemates and factory workers, aged 32 and 37, were detained separately near the flats after a woman called the Mak Mandin police station, informing them about a parcel at the flats, believed to be explosives.
Checks found the explosives to be an improvised explosive device.
Interrogation of the male suspect led to the recovery of another self-made bomb.
Police also seized an imitation pistol, self-made bullets and a sickle-shaped knife.
The suspect had admitted he learned to make the bomb from websites and materials brought online.