Datuk, seven others charged with being members of organised criminal group
JOHOR BARU: Eight men, including one with a "Datuk" title, were charged in the magistrate's court today for being members of an organised criminal group.
They are Datuk K.Elumalai, 42; K.Puvendran, 28; M. Kishok Kumar, 25; R.Ganabathy, 30; R.Shamuga Nathan, 37; S.Jeeva, 26; S.Rajandran, 39; and M.Suresh, 39.
However, no plea was recorded from them.
The eight men were charged with becoming members of the 'Geng 21 Japan' an organised criminal group at the Iskandar Regional Development Area here between Jan 18 and Aug 19, 2015.
The charge, under Section 130v of the Penal Code, carries an imprisonment for up to 20 years, if found guilty.
The prosecution was conducted by Johor prosecution head Saiful Edris Zainuddin, while lawyers Nor Shahid Abd Malik and Baharuddin Bahrim represented Elumalai and Puvendran, and Datin Freda Sabapathy for Shamuga Nathan and Ganabathy.
The other accused were unrepresented.
Magistrate Nor Azlan Shah Mohd Allias set Aug 24 for mention to obtain permission to transfer the case to the High Court. — Bernama