Fifteen anti-Lynas supporters, including Himpunan Hijau chairperson Wong Tack, were ordered by the Sessions Court in Kuantan today to enter their defence to the charge of participating in an illegal protest gathering against the operations of Lynas Corporation Sdn Bhd (Lynas) in Gebeng, in June 2014.

Judge Unaizah Mohd made the decision after the prosecution managed to prove a prima facie case against all the accused.

She then set July 21, Aug 28 and 29 for them to enter their defence. All the accused who were represented by lawyer Mohd Haijan Omar then chose to testify under oath from the dock.

On July 8, 2014, all the 15 pleaded not guilty to the charge of participating in the illegal protest gathering near the Lynas plant in Gebeng, with four of them also charged with using criminal force against the police.

Wong Tack, 58, was charged together with Raymond Ang, 42, Rapar Ahmad, 47, Tan Wang Sheng, 40, Hew Kuan Yau, 47, Wong Chee Wai, 38, Lee Hai Ming, 40, Chong Kong Huen, 67, Tan Chee Hooi, 41, Zamri Zainal, 29, and Thomas Wong, 55.

The charge is under Section 145 of the Penal Code for refusing to disperse from the illegal protest gathering although ordered to do so by Kuantan district police chief Abdul Aziz Salleh.

They are alleged to have committed the offence between 4pm and 5.30pm on June 22, 2014 in Jalan Bandaran heading towards the Lynas plant in the Gebeng Industrial Area in Kuantan.

Fong Poh Chu, 39, Wong Che Wen, 47, Phuah Kia Ham, 46, and Ho Kam Huat, 47, were charged under Section 147 of the Penal Code by while participating in the illegal protest, had barged through the police roadblock at the same time, date and place.

Ho was also charged under Section 353 of the Penal Code with using criminal force at the same time, date and place against policeman Isaher Abd Hamid who tried to apprehend him by kicking and scratching the latter, causing injuries to his legs and face.

The charges provide for a jail term of up to two years or a fine, or both.

DPPs Farid Gohim Abdullah, Sharul Ekhsan Hasim and Farahah Mohd Nazari appeared for the prosecution.

- Bernama