Two DAP assemblypersons were among several suspects charged over their purported links to defunct terrorist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) group in courtrooms across the country today.
They were slapped with various charges related to supporting the LTTE, possessing and displaying items linked to the group, all under Section 130J of the Penal Code pertaining to soliciting or giving support to terrorist groups or for the commission of terrorist acts.
The accused, G Saminathan, 34, P Gunasekaran, 60. - the assemblypersons for Gadek and Seremban Jaya respectively - were today charged at the Malacca Sessions Court for supporting LTTE in November, last year.
Bernama reported they were charged together with one S Chandru, 38, a chief officer at a corporation, with committing the offence during an event at Dewan Kasturi Ayer Keroh at Taman Ayer Keroh Heights in Malacca between 8.30 pm to 10.50 pm on Nov 28, 2018.
The trio was charged under Section 130J(1)(a) of the Penal Code which provides for life imprisonment or 30 years jail term or a fine if found guilty.
Saminathan, meanwhile, was also slapped with an additional charge Section 130JB(1)(a) of the Penal Code, for possession of materials linked to the terrorist group in a handphone at the state Unity, Human Resources and Consumer Affairs exco office, located at the Chief Minister’s Office, Kompleks Seri Negeri at 10.25 am on Oct 10, this year.
The charge carries a maximum jail term of seven years or a fine upon conviction. The law also requires offenders to dispose of related items.
Although the charges were read out in court in front of judge Elesabet Paya Wan, today, no pleas were reportedly recorded.
Selayang Sessions Court
Bail was not allowed at the Sessions Courts as it does not have the authority to make a decision involving Section 13 of Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012.
The three accused were among 12 suspects arrested by Bukit Aman in a sweep from Oct 10 to 12 as part of the latter’s LTTE crackdown.
Meanwhile, over at the Selayang Sessions Court, scrap metal businessperson A Kalaimughilan, 28, was charged with two counts of possessing materials related to LTTE, including a CD and VCD.
He was charged under Section 130JB (1)(a) of the Penal Code before Sessions judge Maziah Joary Mohd Tajudin.
For the first charge, he was alleged to have been in possession of an “item linked to terrorist group LTTE” at an address located in Rawang on Oct 10, while the second charge alleged the items were found in a Mitsubishi car located in front of the same Rawang address on the same date.
No plea was recorded.
Segamat Sessions court
A dispatch person was also charged for related offences today at the Segamat Sessions Court.
S Teran, 38, who works at a law firm and who is set to wed in December, was charged under Section 130JB (1)(a) of the Penal Code for possession of LTTE-linked materials.
He was alleged to have been in possession of the items at an address in Kampung Paya Pulai in Segamat at about 6.30pm on Oct 10.
The charge was read out in front of Judge Rasidah Roslee with no plea recorded.
According to Bernama, counsel A Mathan, representing the accused, sought bail for his client who he claimed suffered from spinal problems which required treatment.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Low Qin Hui, however, pointed out that this was a non-bailable offence as it involved public and national security.
Low also sought for Teran to be taken to Sungai Buloh prison in Selangor as he is slated to face further charges in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court later today.
Justice Rasidah decided the matter of bail will only be considered once a full medical report is presented to the court.
The court then set Nov 18 for case management.
Sepang Sessions Court
Over at Sepang Sessions Court, teacher Sundram Renggan @ Rengasamy, 52, was also charged under Section 130JB (1)(a) of the Penal Code for possession of LTTE-linked items.
The physics and English teacher was charged with committing the offence at an address at Taman Telok, Telok Panglima Garang in Kuala Langat at about 2.30pm on Oct 12.
The charge was read out in front of Judge Saifulakmal Mod Said. No plea was recorded, Bernama reported.
His lawyer, Kirthiraj Raja Sundram, applied for bail on the ground the accused suffered from diabetes, requiring treatment.
This was denied by Justice Saifulakmal, who, however, instructed that proper treatment be accorded to the accused. Case mention was set to Dec 16.
Kuala Kangsar Sessions Court
At the Kuala Kangsar Sessions Court, Bernama reported that a technician and a taxi driver were jointly charged with supporting LTTE since 2014.
S Arivainthan, 27, dan V Balamurugan, 37, were charged under Section 130J(1)(a) of the Penal Code. The duo was charged with committing the offence at Sungai Siput (North) Kuala Kangsar Municipal Council event, between 6.30pm to 11.45pm on Dec 28, 2014.
Balamurugan was also under Section 130JB (1)(a), for possession of LTTE-linked items.
For the first charge, he was alleged to have possessed LTTE-linked items, allegedly in a handphone at the vicinity of the Sungai Siput taxi stand at 9.40am on Oct 10.
He faces a further two charges, under Section 130JB (1)(a) and Section 130JB (1)(b,) with possessing and displaying LTTE-linked items at a premise located at Taman Bukit Medan, Sungai Siput, at about 9.50am, also on Oct 10.
Bail application was denied for both accused and the judge set Nov 28 for case mention. Lawyer RSN Rayer, representing Arivainthan, told reporters outside court that he will be appealing the no bail decision with the Ipoh High Court by tomorrow.
Two more suspects are expected to be charged in Penang later today while two others on Thursday. - Mkini
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