PETALING JAYA: The lawyer representing Patrick Khoo Kian Wui will write to the Attorney-General Chamber's and deputy public prosecutor (DPP) to request for the charges to be dropped.
Lawyer Rajsurian Pillai, who represented Khoo at the magistrate's court here today, said his team may also reach out to any other party who could help to seek justice for the senior citizen.
"We will write to the DPP to ask them to reconsider the charge and consider whether they want to drop the case because we don't see that he should be charged in this case. We will see what the DPP decides," he told reporters outside the court.
Rajsurian, who is working pro-bono, said their priority today was to get Khoo out on bail. The RM2,000 bail was posted.
Khoo, 69, 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 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.
According to the charge sheet, Khoo committed the offence on March 22 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.
On March 24, Khoo had lodged a police report against MBPJ a day after the incident for fear of the welfare of two of his dogs and a puppy which were taken away.
MBPJ subsequently lodged a police report, while pledging no cover-up in the incident. The local authority also said it had set up an internal investigating committee to look into the case.