Umno's Lokman, three others charged with assaulting UM student

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno supreme council member Datuk Lokman Noor Adam and three others have been charged with two counts of assaulting a 23-year-old Universiti Malaya student during a protest staged outside of the university on March 22.

Lokman, 46, Petaling Jaya Umno chief Datuk Abdul Mutalif Abdul Rahim, 48, Umno office clerk Salmon Arif Budiman Muchlis, 48, despatch rider Mohd Norzakifah Mohammed Nawi, 44, and another man still at large, were accused of voluntarily causing hurt to Wong Yan Ke by holding his jaw and pulling his neck from behind.

They were also accused of pulling the victim's hair from behind.

The offences were allegedly committed at a bus stop opposite Restoran Amjal, Jalan Pantai Baharu here at 3.30pm on March 22.
The charges, under Section 323 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 149 of the same Code, carries imprisonment of up to one year or a fine up to RM2,000 or both if convicted.
Lokman also faces a third charge of committing mischief with the intention to cause damage to Wong by ripping off the victim's placard.

The offence under Section 426 of the Penal Code carries a prison sentence of up to five years or a fine or both if convicted.

Meanwhile, Abdul Mutalif, who is the brother to Baling MP Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez, was charged separately under Section 323 of the Penal Code with assaulting Malaysiakini intern Siti Mariam Mohamad Nizar, 25, and causing hurt to her right thumb.

Abdul Mutalif was also charged under Section 352 of the Penal Code for allegedly using criminal force on the victim's right thumb.

He could be jailed up to three months or fined up to RM1,000 or both if convicted.

All of the accused pleaded not guilty to all the charges before magistrate Umzarul An-Nur Umar here on Thursday (March 28).

The court allowed bail at RM9,000 for Lokman, RM6,000 for Abdul Mutalif and RM4,000 each for Salmon and Mohd Norzakifah, and ordered that the accused not disturb the witnesses.

The case is set for mention on May 16.

DPP Adam Mohamed prosecuted.

Lawyers N. Logendran, Mohd Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz, Azrul Zulkifli Stork and Datuk M. Redza Hassan appeared for the accused.

On March 22, an altercation occurred at the bus stop between UM students and supporters of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. At the time of the incident, Najib was speaking to a group of students at a restaurant located opposite the bus stop.

The police said they received 12 reports following the incident.- Star