Sept 15 trial for Hindraf’s 66

Source : The Star

SHAH ALAM: Sixty-six Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) supporters charged with allegedly participating in an illegal assembly at Batu Caves on Nov 25 will have their case heard at the Sessions Court here in September.

Judge Azimah Omar fixed Sept 15 to 19 and Sept 22 to 26 for the trial, which is expected to see about 80 witnesses brought in to testify.

Sixty-four of the accused also faced an additional charge of causing mischief by damaging seven vehicles in the Batu Caves Sri Subramaniar temple premises between 1am and 8am on the same day.

Initially, 69 people, including five students, were arrested and separately charged in the Shah Alam and Selayang courts in December.

The prosecution had withdrawn the charge of causing mischief against the students but maintained the charge of participating in an illegal assembly against two of them.

The remaining 64 people face both charges.

Padang Serai MP N. Gobalakrishnan is among the 66 people who will be tried in September.

Deputy public prosecutor Nik Suhaimi Nik Sulaiman told Azimah that the Attorney-General’s Chambers was also considering the representations made by the defence team on the charges brought against the accused.

All 66 were released on a RM500 bail with one surety each and have to report to the nearest police station once a month.