CORONAVIRUS | A lawyer representing two men netted by police for going fishing during the movement control order (MCO) period has denied that they have a record of previous convictions.
Responding to social activist Kuan Chee Heng (above), who is known as Uncle Kentang, lawyer Balakrishna Balaravi Pillai also denied claims that his clients - Chin Chee Wei, 45, and Chong Poh Wah, 56 - had insisted to be sent to jail as they could not afford to pay a fine.
"I am very unhappy with his statement.
"I do not know where he got his information [...] It's all slander," he told Malaysiakini today.
"I am a lawyer from the National Legal Aid Foundation who represented them during the proceeding and I can confirm they did not ask to be jailed.
"Instead they had asked if they could perform a community service order," Balakrishna said, adding that he would be filing an appeal at the Ipoh High Court against the duo's sentence.
Court documents confirmed that the duo from Sungai Siput were arrested on Thursday while travelling on a motorcycle with fishing rods.
According to Sin Chew Daily, the men told the court that they used to earn a daily wage of RM100 but that has been cut off due to the MCO.
Earlier today, Kuan in a Facebook post said he was approached to help pay the duo's fine of RM1,000 each and secure their release.
He, however, claimed to have been informed by contacts in Sungai Siput that the duo had a history of convictions and had insisted to be sent to prison.
Under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within the Local Infected Areas) Regulations 2020, all non-essential travel within Malaysia is not permitted until the MCO is lifted.
Anyone violating the law can be fined up to RM1,000, jailed up to six months, or both. - Mkini
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