KUANTAN: An e-hailing driver claimed trial at the Sessions Court today for causing grievous hurt to a Chinese national using a folding chair at a hotel lobby here on Dec 16.
The accused Mohd Sidek Saleh, 32, who is a person with a disability (OKU) pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to him by the court interpreter before judge Datuk Ahmad Zamzani Mohd Zain.
Sidek, youngest of nine siblings, was charged with intentionally causing grievous hurt to a woman by attacking her right hand fingers using an object - a folding chair - which could be used as a weapon that might result in death.
He allegedly committed the offence at a hotel lobby here about 6.20pm on Dec 16.
Sidek was charged under Section 326 of the Penal Code which provides for a jail sentence of up to 20 years and fine or caning, if found guilty.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Luqman Hakim Mohamad Usari proposed that bail not be offered as the offence is serious and the accused had repeatedly hit the victim without a proper reason.
"The victim does not know why she was hit. The accused could also commit similar offences in the future... if the court wants to allow bail, the prosecution proposes RM15,000 bail along with other strict conditions," he said.
Datuk Zaharman Zainal Abidin, who represented Sidek, in his lengthy mitigation pleaded to the court to allow bail for his client.
"My client earns between RM1,500 and RM2,000 a month as an e-hailing driver. He receives aid from the Welfare Department after becoming disabled(OKU) following a massive motorcycle accident in 2016 where he fractured his bones and suffered head injuries... he was in coma and hospitalised for several months."In this case, my client surrendered himself at the district police station and provided his cooperation to the authorities upon realising the case had become viral in social media. I plead for the court to allow bail for my client and we will adhere to other conditions imposed by the court," he said, adding Sidek also supports his elderly parents with his income.
Ahmad Zamzani set bail at RM15,000 with two surety and told the accused not to disturb the victim and other witnesses, report to the Kuantan police headquarters starting next month and surrender his passport to the court until the case is over.
He fixed Feb 5 for mention.
Last week, the victim, a student lodged a police report claiming an e-hailing driver had repeatedly attacked her with a folding chair, leaving her bruised and injured.