A LORRY driver was charged at the Petaling Jaya magistrates’ court today for obstructing civil servants from carrying out their duties as well as rioting at the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Subang Jaya, Selangor, a little more than a month ago.

M. Chandran, 32, pleaded not guilty to the two charges read out before Magistrate Nurshahirah Abdul Salim.

A group including Chandran and several others who are still at large were jointly charged with obstructing Inspector Mohd Nazmi Zulkafli, Sergeant Mohamad Faiz Abdul Rahim and Corporal Ahmad Zamran Mat from carrying out their duties.

On the second count, Chandran was charged together with 50 people, several of whom are still at large, as being a part of a group which prevented a police patrol car from exiting the temple premises using criminal force.

All the offences were allegedly committed at the front entrance of the temple located USJ 25, Subang Jaya at 1.30pm on November 26 last year, under Section 186 and 147 of the Penal Code, with each charge carrying a maximum jail term of two years or a fine, or both, upon conviction.

Meanwhile, an unemployed man also pleaded not guilty in front of Magistrate Mohamad Ikhwan Mohd Nasir for damaging a vehicle at the same location, at 4.30am, November 25 last year.

A. Janagan, 33, was charged together with several others still at large with damaging a four-wheel drive Nissan Navara with the registration number WVS 3776, belonging to the company Modular Construction Technician.

The charge under Section 427 of the Penal Code provides for a minimum jail term of one year, or fine or both, upon conviction.

The court allowed Chandran bail at RM3,000 for both charges in one surety while Janagan was allowed bail at RM2,500 in one surety with an additional condition to report to a nearby police station twice a month.

The court fixed February 15 for mention of all the cases.

Deputy public prosecutor Mary Phoon Keat Mee and Nor Baizura Mohd Saubian prosecuted while both the accused were represented by counsel R. Balamurali. – Bernama, January 14, 2019.