December 30, 2007
KUALA TERENGGANU, Dec 30 (Bernama) — The Session’s Court here today dismissed applications for bail by two men charged with causing hurt to a police officer and to an alternative charge with deliberately attempting to cause grievious hurt on a policeman during a riot here on Sept 8.
Judge Hassan Abdul Ghani rejected the applications on the grounds that Muhammad Azman Abd Aziz and Suwandi Ab Ghani had filed appeals to the High Court to be allowed bail for both the charges.
“It is up to the High Court to decide,” he added.
Muhammad Azman, 21, from Pasir Panjang and Suwandi, 38, from Kampung Binjai Rendah, Marang, who were shot during the riot at Jalan Sultan Mahmud here, had claimed trial to both the charges on Dec 9.
The policeman named as the victim was Wan Abdul Aziz Wan Omar.
The duo were also charged with taking part in an unlawful assembly.
The offences were alleged to have been committed jointly with 18 others at about 11.40pm at the car park of Hotel Permai Inn, Jalan Sultan Mahmud, on Sept 8.
They face maximum three years’ jail for the cause hurt offences and six months jail or a fine for unlawful assembly, if convicted.
Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail and deputy public prosecutors, Mohd Hanafiah Zakaria and Ishak Mohd Yusof prosecuted while the accused were represented by counsel, former Chief Justice Tun Mohamed Salleh Abas, Datuk Wan Abdul Muttalib Embong and Mohd Hanifa Maidin.
Earlier, Abdul Gani applied for the case be postponed to another date so that it could be heard with three other cases at the Magistrate’s Court, which were also related to the riot.
The court then postponed hearing of the case to Jan 20-24 and Jan 27-31.
Meanwhile, about 200 PAS supporters staged a demonstration outside the court compound while the case was in progress.