KUALA LUMPUR: A 29-year-old ‘Datuk Seri’ embroiled in an assault case involving three People's Volunteer Corps (Rela) members was charged today with voluntarily causing grievous hurt and using criminal force to deter public servants from discharging their duties a week ago.
Liow Soon Hee, clad in a white shirt and black trousers, was calm when the charges were read to him before Judge Azrul Darus at the Ampang Sessions Court.
The businessman was charged with voluntarily causing grievous hurt to Lee Weng Poh, 27, near Kou Ong Yah temple, Jalan Merdeka, near Ampang at about 6.30am on Oct 27.
The offence falls under Section 325 of the Penal Code which carries maximum seven years imprisonment and shall also be liable to a fine upon conviction.
He was also charged with using criminal force to deter Melvin Cheong Mun Khai, 19, to carry out his duty as a Rela officer at the same place and time.
This offence under Section 353 of the same Code carries a maximum two years imprisonment or a fine or both upon conviction.
In addition, Liow faced two counts of voluntarily causing hurt to Leong Jun Jie, 21, and Cheong at the same place and time, an offence under Section 323 of the same Code which carries maximum one year imprisonment or maximum RM2,000 fine or both, upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nadiah Malek Fauzie suggested RM25,000 bail for all charges.
However, lawyer Datuk Geethan Ram Vincent who acted for Liow pleaded for a minimum bail.
“Bail is just to secure the attendance of my client during court hearing,” he said.
The court set bail at RM17,000 with one surety for all the charges and ordered Liow for not to disturb the witnesses.
The court fixed Dec 14 for mention.
Last Friday, a 'Datuk Seri' was reported to have been allegedly involved in the assault of three Rela men - Lee, Cheong, and Leong - when they asked him to move his Toyota Vellfire, which was obstructing traffic.
In the 6.30am incident, which happened near the Kau Ong Yah Temple in Ampang, Lee suffered bruises and swelling on his left eye. It was also understood that Leong was kicked and Cheong was hit on the back of his head.
The 'Datuk Seri' was also alleged to have offered RM10,000 to each of the victims to withdraw their police reports. The offer was said to have been made via a middleman.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission meanwhile has launched an investigation into the claim that he had offered money to the Rela men.