TWO men, including a company director, are the first to be charged under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 with committing sabotage on water services in Selangor.

Contractor, R. Nathan, 42, and company director, Lim Kian Aik, 42, both claimed trial after the charge was read out to them before Selayang Sessions Court judge Maziah Joary Mohd Tajudin.

They were charged with intentionally committing sabotage to disrupt water services in Selangor at No. 32, Jalan Velox 2, Taman Velox, Rawang, Gombak between November 2 and 10.

The charge was framed under Section 124K of the Penal Code, which carries life in prison.

No bail was offered to both the accused.

Deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Iskandar Ahmad said the case involved an offence against national security and hence, should be tried in the high court.

Lawyer Erni Ahmad from the National Legal Aid Foundation, who represented Nathan, said the prosecution’s move of not offering bail to his client was ultra vires (beyond the power) of Article 5 and 21 of the federal constitution.

“My client works as a contractor with a monthly income of RM2,500, and is the sole breadwinner of his family. He has diabetes,” she said.

Lim’s lawyer Harcharanjit Singh requested for bail on grounds his client was a married man with four children, aged between 11 and 17.

“In this case, my client has cooperated well with the authorities. He is a director of an active company and the sole breadwinner of his family,” he said.

Both men were denied bail and the court set January 8, 2021, for mention.

Earlier, the two men, who are also facing five other charges under the Environmental Quality Act 1974 and the Water Service Industry Act 2006, were brought to court at 9.45am accompanied by policemen from the Serious Crimes Division of the Gombak district police headquarters.

Nathan also claimed trial before magistrate Nik Mohd Fadli Nik Azlan to a charge of conducting business activities at the same premises without a license issued by licensing authorities.

The case also been fixed for mention on January 8 next year. – Bernama, November 23, 2020.