Malaysian Crime Watch Task Force (MyWatch) chairperson R Sri Sanjeevan was charged with extortion at the Magistrate's Court in Kuala Lumpur today.

Sanjeevan, 32, pleaded not guilty to the charge which was read out before Magistrate Ahmad Solihin Abd Wahid.

He was accused of extorting Mohamad Azhan Hamza, 32, at Restoran Marakesh in Jalan Raja Uda, Kampung Baru in Kuala Lumpur at 9pm on May 22, 2014.

He was charged under Section 395 of the Penal Code which provides for a maximum imprisonment of seven years with fine or whipping, or with any two of the provisions upon conviction.

Sanjeevan's counsel, Ravin Jay, appealed to the court that his client be offered bail as the MyWatch chairperson was already on bail for three charges in the Negri Sembilan and Pahang courts.

"Bail was offered in all the previous cases and he had paid a total of RM21,000 for bail in the three charges," he said.

Deputy public prosecutor Nurelynna Hanim Abd Halim objected to bail.

Magistrate Ahmad Solihin offered Sanjeevan bail at RM2,500 in one surety and set Sept 8 for re-mention of the case.

On Aug 12, Sanjeevan pleaded not guilty at a Magistrate's Court in Temerloh, Pahang to an extortion charge.

He also claimed trial at the Seremban Sessions and Magistrate's Courts in Negri Sembilan on two charges of employing illegal foreign workers and extortion on July 19.

- Bernama