Senior Citizen Pleads Not Guilty To Possession Of Explosives In Nilai

SEREMBAN, Jan 9 (Bernama) -- A 63-year-old man pleaded not guilty at the Tuanku Ja'afar Hospital here today to five charges related to the improvised explosive device (IED) case in Nilai last month.

Yeoh Hock Sun, 63, made the plea before Sessions Court Judge Datin Surita Budin during the proceedings conducted in English and Mandarin at the patient ward as the accused was still receiving treatment.

According to the charge, the man was charged with possessing explosives in a manner that gave rise to a reasonable suspicion with the intent to cause injury at Apartment Desa Palma, Nilai at 12.30 pm, Dec 22.

He was also in possession of explosives that were found in a Proton Wira at the Star Valley parking lot, Nilai at 7.30 pm the same day, and on the side of the main road in Kampung Batang Benar, Mantin in Nilai at 4.15 pm on Dec 27.

The accused was found guilty of an offence under Section 3 of the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958 which provides for a prison sentence of not more than seven years and whipping.

For the next charge, Yeoh was found guilty of mischief by using the explosives to cause damage to a Mitsubishi L200 Triton vehicle belonging to a 47-year-old man in the parking area of ​​Apartment Desa Palma, at 5.55 am, Dec 22.

The accused was found guilty of the offence under Section 435 of the Penal Code which provides for a maximum prison sentence of 14 years and a fine.

Yeoh was also charged with maliciously using an IED explosive to cause injury at 5.55 am, Dec 22.

He was found guilty of the offence under Section 4 of the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958 which provides for imprisonment not exceeding three years and whipping.

The case was handled by deputy public prosecutor Norazihah Asmuni while the accused was not represented by a lawyer. The judge ruled that no bail should be granted to the accused and the case will be mentioned again on Feb 12.

The media previously reported that the police found a suspected IED following an explosion in the Desa Palma area after receiving a report from the public about an explosive object and nails scattered in the area at 7.08 am, Dec 22.

-- BERNAMA