Houseman charged with desecrating statues at Hindu temple

Fathi Munzir Nadzri pleads not guilty to charges of desecrating statues at a Hindu temple.

IPOH: A houseman was charged today in the Sessions Court here with desecrating statues at a Hindu temple last Sunday and possessing a dangerous weapon.

Fathi Munzir Nadzri, 29, pleaded not guilty to the charges that were read out to him by the court interpreter before Judge Ikmal Hishan Mohd Tajuddin.

He is alleged to have damaged the statues at the Sree Muneeswaran Amman Temple in Jalan Hospital about 5pm on that day.

For the alleged desecration of the statues, he was charged under Section 295 of the Penal Code which carries a maximum jail term of two years or a fine, or both, upon conviction.

For the alleged possession of the dangerous weapon, he was charged under Section 6(1) of the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958 which provides for a maximum 10-year jail term and probably whipping upon conviction.

Ikmal Hisham allowed an application by head of the Perak Prosecution Unit Yusaini Amer Abdul Karim for Fathi Munzir to be sent to Hospital Bahagia in Tanjung Rambutan for observation and a month-long treatment with the provision for extension if necessary.

The judge also allowed the accused bail of RM8,000 in one surety and set May 30 for mention.

Fathi Munzir was represented by counsel Mohamad Hafiz Jalaludin and Mior Fadhli Mior Shaifuddin.

-BERNAMA