DAP reps, teacher, businessperson among those charged over 'LTTE links'
Two DAP assemblypersons were among several suspects charged over their purported links to defunct terrorist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in courtrooms across the country today.
They were slapped with various charges related to supporting the LTTE, possessing and displaying items linked to the group, all under Section 130J of the Penal Code pertaining to soliciting or giving support to terrorist groups or for the commission of terrorist acts...
Two DAP assemblypersons were among several suspects charged over their purported links to defunct terrorist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in courtrooms across the country today.
The charges are related to supporting the LTTE and possessing and displaying items linked to the group, all under Section 130J of the Penal Code pertaining to soliciting or giving support to terrorist groups or for the commission of terrorist acts.
The accused are G Saminathan, 34, P Gunasekaran, 60 - assemblypersons for Gadek and Seremban Jaya respectively. They were charged at the Malacca Sessions Court along with one S Chandru, 38, a chief officer at a corporation, with committing the offence during an event at Dewan Kasturi Ayer Keroh at Taman Ayer Keroh Heights in Malacca between 8.30 pm to 10.50 pm on Nov 28, 2018.
The trio was charged under Section 130J(1)(a) of the Penal Code which provides for life imprisonment or 30 years jail term or a fine if found guilty.
Saminathan, meanwhile, was also slapped with an additional charge Section 130JB(1)(a) of the Penal Code, for possession of materials linked to the terrorist group in a handphone at the state Unity, Human Resources and Consumer Affairs exco office, located at the Chief Minister’s Office, Kompleks Seri Negeri at 10.25 am on Oct 10, this year.
The charge carries a maximum jail term of seven years or a fine upon conviction. The law also requires offenders to dispose of related items.
Although the charges were read out in court in front of judge Elesabet Paya Wan, today, no pleas were reportedly recorded.
Bail was not allowed at the Sessions Courts as it does not have the authority to make a decision involving Section 13 of Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012.
The three accused were among 12 suspects arrested by Bukit Aman in a sweep from Oct 10 to 12 as part of the latter’s LTTE crackdown.
Meanwhile, over at the Selayang Sessions Court, scrap metal businessperson A Kalaimughilan, 28, was charged with two counts of possessing materials related to LTTE, including a CD and VCD.
He was charged under Section 130JB (1)(a) of the Penal Code before Sessions judge Maziah Joary Mohd Tajudin.
For the first charge, he was alleged to have been in possession of an “item linked to terrorist group LTTE” at an address located in Rawang on Oct 10, while the second charge alleged the items were found in a Mitsubishi car located in front of the same Rawang address on the same date.
No plea was recorded.
Segamat Sessions Court
A dispatch person was also charged for related offences today at the Segamat Sessions Court.
S Teran, 38, who works at a law firm and who is set to wed in December, was charged under Section 130JB (1)(a) of the Penal Code for possession of LTTE-linked materials.
He was alleged to have been in possession of the items at an address in Kampung Paya Pulai in Segamat at about 6.30 pm on Oct 10.
The charge was read out in front of Judge Rasidah Roslee with no plea recorded.
According to Bernama, counsel A Mathan, representing the accused, sought bail for his client who he claimed suffered from spinal problems which required treatment.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Low Qin Hui, however, pointed out that this was a non-bailable offence as it involved public and national security.
Low also sought for Teran to be taken to Sungai Buloh prison in Selangor as he is slated to face further charges in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court later today.
Justice Rasidah decided the matter of bail will only be considered once a full medical report is presented to the court.
The court then set Nov 18 for case management.
Sepang Sessions Court
Over at Sepang Sessions Court, teacher Sundram Renggan @ Rengasamy, 52, was also charged under Section 130JB (1)(a) of the Penal Code for possession of LTTE-linked items.
The physics and English teacher was charged with committing the offence at an address at Taman Telok, Telok Panglima Garang in Kuala Langat at about 2.30 pm on Oct 12.
The charge was read out in front of Judge Saifulakmal Mod Said. No plea was recorded, Bernama reported.
His lawyer, Kirthiraj Raja Sundram, applied for bail on the ground the accused suffered from diabetes, requiring treatment.
This was denied by Justice Saifulakmal, who, however, instructed that proper treatment be accorded to the accused. Case mention was set to Dec 16.
Kuala Kangsar Sessions Court
At the Kuala Kangsar Sessions Court, Bernama reported that a technician and a taxi driver were jointly charged with supporting LTTE since 2014.
S Arivainthan, 27, dan V Balamurugan, 37, were charged under Section 130J(1)(a) of the Penal Code. The duo was charged with committing the offence at Sungai Siput (North) Kuala Kangsar Municipal Council event, between 6.30pm to 11.45pm on Dec 28, 2014.
Balamurugan was also under Section 130JB (1)(a), for possession of LTTE-linked items.
For the first charge, he was alleged to have possessed LTTE-linked items, allegedly in a handphone at the vicinity of the Sungai Siput taxi stand at 9.40am on Oct 10.
He faces a further two charges, under Section 130JB (1)(a) and Section 130JB (1)(b,) with possessing and displaying LTTE-linked items at a premise located at Taman Bukit Medan, Sungai Siput, at about 9.50am, also on Oct 10.
Bail application was denied for both accused and the judge set Nov 28 for case mention. Lawyer RSN Rayer, representing Arivainthan, told reporters outside court that he will be appealing the no bail decision with the Ipoh High Court by tomorrow.
Two more suspects are expected to be charged on Thursday.
Butterworth Sessions Court
The Butterworth Sessions Court, meanwhile, fixed Dec 16 for mention of the case of two individuals who were charged there today with activities linked to the LTTE.
The first of the two, Pomugan Mahalingam, 29, claimed trial to the charges read out to him in Bahasa Malaysia.
Pomugan, a security guard, was found to be in possession of materials linked to the LTTE on Oct 12 at 3.36 pm, at the parking lot of NSE Lorry Transport Sdn Bhd, Lorong Industri Ringan Permatang Tinggi 14, Seberang Perai Tengah.
The materials were found in a black mobile Samsung phone.
Pomugan was also charged with possession of violent and LTTE-linked materials on Oct 12, 4.15 pm, at No 693, Jalan Juru Bukit Mertajam, Seberang Perai Tengah.
The charges were for offences under section 130JB(1)(a) of the Penal Code. State prosecution director Yusaini Amer Abdul Karim led the prosecution team in Penang, while Pomugan was represented by lawyer N Ahilan.
Sessions Court judge Norhayati Mohamad Yunus denied bail due to the charges involving the Special Offences (Security Measures) Act (Sosma).
Ahilan requested for the court's mercy saying Pomugan suffered from epilepsy.
"He had an episode while in prison but was not given medical attention, he needs medical care," Ahilan said.
Meanwhile, at another Sessions Court, judge Noraini Yusof also fixed Dec 16 to hear the case of 25-year-old Thanaraj Sivam, a store assistant, who was also charged under Sosma today.
He was charged with being in possession of materials linked to the LTTE on Oct 12, at 10 am, at the Sky Thomas Food Industries Sdn Bhd, Jalan Perindustrian Bukit Minyak 2, Seberang Perai Tengah.
The materials were found in an iPhone 7, rose gold colour edition.
Thanaraj was also charged with possession of materials linked to violence and the LTTE on Oct 12, at 11 am, at No 7 Lorong Sejahtera 3, Taman Sejahtera, Seberang Perai Tengah.
Ahilan, who also acted for Thanaraj, requested for bail saying his client had given good cooperation with the police during the investigation. However, bail was denied.
Pomugan and Thanaraj, if convicted, face a fine and/or a jail term not exceeding seven years.
Ahilan claimed his clients were told to sign documents which they did not understand and the content of the documents were not explained to them.
Ahilan also argued that Section 6c of the Penal Code which related to Sosma was not mentioned in the charge sheets of the two suspects.
"We also request that the case be transferred to the Penang High Court as soon as possible to prevent further delay and suffering of my clients and their families," Ahilan said.
Thanaraj and Pomugan were detained on Oct 12 in Seberang Perai over alleged LTTE links.
The duo arrived at the Butterworth courts today escorted by masked police at about 1.40 pm.
Some members of their families cried on seeing them but were not able to approach them.
After the charges were read out in court, the families remained calm but declined to comment.
Additional reporting by Annabelle Lee & Susan Loone
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