UMNO’S Lokman Noor Adam has been slapped with three charges over an altercation with a group of Universiti Malaya students protesting against former prime minister Najib Razak.

Lokman, 47, was charged with three others under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt to 23-year-old Wong Yan Ke by grabbing him and pulling his neck from behind last Friday.

He was also charged with intentionally causing losses to Wong by tearing the student’s placard at a bus stop opposite Amjal Restaurant in Jalan Pantai Baru about 3.30pm the same day, reported Malaysiakini.

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

The Supreme Council member’s third charge is under Section 426 of the Penal Code for causing mischief. He tore up a cut-out of Najib in clown make-up that belonged to one of the students.

The three charged along with Lokman are Petaling Jaya Umno division chief Abdul Mutalif Abdul Rahim, Lembah Pantai Umno office clerk Salmon Arif Budiman Muchlis, 47, and law firm runner Mohd Norzakifah Mohamed Nawi, 43.

An unnamed fourth accused was charged in absentia as he is still at large.

All the four charged claimed trial. Bail was set at different sums, with Lokman’s amounting to RM9,000.

In the incident last week, Najib’s supporters attacked the students, who were holding a demonstration across the road from where the former prime minister was holding a meet-and-greet session, near UM. – March 28, 2019.