Man charged with possession of offensive weapons at Matang Hindu temple

 

The statue of a Hindu deity that was vandalised at a temple in Matang, Perak. (Facebook pic)

TAIPING: A man who was arrested for allegedly damaging a statue of a Hindu deity at a temple in Matang last week, was charged in the sessions court here with possession of dangerous weapons.

Firdaus Taufek, 22, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out to him before judge Nabisha Ibrahim.

He was charged with unlawful possession of offensive weapons, namely a wooden-handled hammer and an iron-handled hammer at the Sri Mangalanayagi Amman Temple, Matang, between 7am and 7.30am on Oct 18.

The charge was filed under Section 6(1) of the Corrosive, Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958, which provides for a maximum 10-year jail term and whipping upon conviction.

Nabisha allowed bail of RM7,000 in two sureties and required him to report to the nearest police station once a month and surrender his passport to the court until the case is resolved.

The court set Nov 28 for mention, appointment of a lawyer and document submission.

Deputy public prosecutor Ng Yan Ni prosecuted, while the accused, who works as a labourer at an oil palm plantation, was unrepresented. - FMT