Malay Rights Ngo Head Charged With Criminal Intimidation After Adib Rally

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KLANG (Bernama): Datuk Azwanddin Hamzah (pic), president of Malay-rights non-governmental organisation Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM), has pleaded not guilty to two charges of criminal intimidation and intentional insult in December last year.He was charged in separate magistrate's courts on Wednesday (April 24).Azwanddin, 46, claimed trial after the charges were read out to him before Magistrate Solehah Noratikah Ismail and Magistrate Muhammad Azzam Zainal Abidin.He was charged with committing criminal intimidation on Bandar Baru Klang police station chief Asst Supt Harun Abu Bakar by threatening to attack the Klang police station, at Dataran Seni Off Jalan Melayu, Pusat Bandar Klang here about 6.15pm on Dec 25.The charge, under Section 506 of the Penal Code, carries a maximum sentence of seven years jail or a fine or both if convicted.Azwanddin was also charged with intentionally insulted D. Arumugam, 49, with intent to provoke a breach of the peace at the same place, time and date.The charge, under Section 504 of the Penal Code, carries a maximum sentence of two years jail or a fine or both if convicted.The court allowed Azwanddin bail of RM13,000 in one surety and set May 24 for mention of the case.He also ordered to report himself to the nearest police station every month.Azwanddin was represented by Izzat Muhtar while deputy public prosecutor Mohd Fairuz Johari appeared for the prosecution.In the "Justice For You Adib" and "Sack Waytha Moothy" rally organised by Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (Geras) at Dataran Seni, Klang on Dec 25, Azwanddin in his speech issued a provocative statement among others threatening to attack the Klang police station if the parties involved in the death of firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim were not arrested.Muhammad Adib, a member of the Subang Jaya Fire and Rescue Station EMRS unit, was seriously injured during a rioting incident at the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in USJ 25, Subang Jaya on Nov, 27 last year.He died at the National Heart Institute on Dec 17. There is an ongoing inquest into his death. – Bernama

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