Court sets Aug 19 to hear case against Lokman and four others

The Kuala Lumpur Magistrate's Court today set Aug 19 for re-mention of a case against Umno Supreme Council member Lokman Noor Adam (photo) and four others accused of injuring a University Malaya student during a fracas in March.

Magistrate Tawfiq Affandy Chin fixed the new mention date after the prosecution failed to submit relevant medical reports to the defence counsels.

During the proceeding, Chin said he was informed by DPP Adam Mohamed that the prosecution has yet to receive the medical reports from Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, to complete other documents, including police reports, which have been handed over according to Section 51A of the Criminal Procedure Code.

On March 28, Lokman and four others were slapped with three charges linked to the fracas which occurred during former premier Najib Abdul Razak's programme with UM students in Pantai Baru.

The four others are Petaling Jaya Umno chief Abdul Mutalif Abdul Rahim, Lembah Pantai Umno office clerk Salmon Arif Budiman Muchlis, 47, law firm runner Mohd Norzakifah Mohamed Nawi, 43, and an unnamed fourth accused, who is still at large.

For the first charge, Lokman, 47, was accused of intentionally causing losses to 23-year-old student leader Wong Yan Ke, by tearing the latter's placard at a bus stop opposite Amjal Restaurant in Kuala Lumpur.

The charge, under Section 426 of the Penal Code for committing mischief, carries a maximum jail term of five years and a fine upon conviction.

On the second charge, Lokman and four others were accused under Section 323 for voluntarily causing hurt to Wong by grabbing his jaw and pulling his neck from behind.

Mutalif, the brother of former Tabung Haji chairperson Abdul Azeez, also faces another charge under Section 323 of the Penal Code for allegedly causing hurt to Malaysiakinijournalist Siti Mariam Mohamad.

He was also given an alternative charge for the same offence under Section 352 for using criminal force to hurt the victim's right thumb.

Under Section 323, anyone found guilty can be punished with a maximum of a year's jail, a fine of RM2,000, or both.

All five were also jointly charged for voluntarily causing hurt to Wong by pulling his hair from behind.

Lawyers N Logendran and Azrul Zulkifli Stork appeared for Lokman and Abdul Mutalif, while M Reza Hassan represented Salmon Arif and Mohd Norzakifah. - Mkini