GEORGE TOWN: Eleven people, including seven women, were charged at the Butterworth Magistrates Court here today with preventing public servants from discharging their duties during a demolition exercise at the Tanah Wakaf Abdul Cauder in Jalan Mengkuang here on March 7.
Syazwan Sulaiman, 30, Mohd Fazli Rosli, 51, Mohd Ihsan Rifqie Mohd Zainudin, 25, Siti Dini Kamilia Haron, 19, Nurul Amani Muhamad Amin, 19, Siti Nurliana Haron, 30, Rozita M. Medar, 47, Nuraila M. Medar, 59, Roshidah M. Medar, 43,Siti Musliha Haron, 25 and Ahmad Khan Hussain, 51,pleaded not guilty before Magistrate M. Kalaiarasi.
The 11, which include six members of one family, allegedly obstructed policemen and Penang Islamic Religious Council (MAINPP) officials from carrying out the demolition of houses on the wakaf land between 12pm to 1.30pm, 11 days ago.
They were separately charged under Section 186 of the Penal code, which carries imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine up to RM10,000, or both.
The 11 were represented by Ahmad Faris Khairuddin who asked for a lower bail, saying the accused had cooperated with the police since their arrest.
“The bail is to ensure the attendance of the accused and not a form of punishment. All 11 came to court today on their own volition after being called by the police.
“They are also short of funds after having spent all of their savings in litigation to defend and prevent being evicted from the Abdul Cauder Wakaf land, on which they had lived for generations,” he said.
Kalaiarasi allowed bail at RM1,000 in one surety for each of the 10 accused.
“Additionally, the accused must also report themselves at the nearest police station every month until the conclusion of the case, starting from today,” she said.
She set April 19 for mention for all the cases.
Earlier, two men also pleaded not guilty to the same charge of preventing a policemen or MAINPP officials from carrying out another demolition exercise on Feb 15.
Zikri Zulkifli, 30, and Mohd Ashraf Mustaqim Badrul Munir, 33, were represented by Khaliq Mehtab Mohd Ishaq.
Khaliq told the court that his clients had cooperated with the police and that bail was to ensure attendance and not a form of punishment.
“Zikri works as a coordinator at Penang Institute and Ashraf is a motivational speaker, both of them are the sole breadwinner of their respective families and have dependants,” he said.
Kalaiarasi allowed bail at RM4,000 in one surety for each of the accused.
She set April 16 for mention.
Deputy public prosecutor Muhamad Syeqal Che Murat prosecuted all 13 cases.
It was reported that Syazwan was also charged earlier at the Magistrate’s court under Section 332 of the Penal Code with voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty, which carries imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine, or both.
It was reported that 11 people were arrested on March 7 for causing a ruckus at the wakaf land during a demolition exercise.
A total of 19 households in the wakaf land had received eviction notices from the land on which the MAINPP intends to develop low and medium-cost apartments.
Each household has been promised a free apartment unit once the blocks are completed.
It is understood that Ashraf and Zikri are allegedly not the residents there.