Rohingya Labourer Charged With Robbery In Datuk Razif Sidek's House

KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 (Bernama) -- A Rohingya labourer pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to a charge of robbing in the house of national badminton legend Datuk Razif Sidek at knifepoint last month.

Mohamad Fawyas Yasin, 27, was charged with robbing in the property of Datuk Mohamad Razif Mohd Sidek, 64, at knifepoint in Jalan Damansara, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, at 12.20 pm on May 19.

The charge was brought under Section 392 of the Penal Code and read together with Section 397 of the same code, which provides for a maximum jail sentence of 14 years and can be fined or whipped, if convicted.

Deputy Public Prosecutor J. Banusha did not offer bail as the offence was serious and the accused's United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) card had expired.

"If bail is granted and the accused does not appear in court, it will be difficult to track his whereabouts since he does not have a fixed address. In addition, the accused also knows the addresses of the victim and witnesses, so it is feared that the witnesses will be harassed," she said.

Meanwhile, lawyer Mansheel Kaur representing Mohamad Fawyas applied for low bail because her client only works as a labourer and earns RM50 a day and has to support his unemployed wife and a 10-month-old child.

"The accused has lived in this country for 15 years and his UNHCR card is in the process of being renewed," said the lawyer.

Judge Siti Shakirah Mohtarudin did not grant the accused bail since there was no valid UNHCR card for the court to consider and set July 14 for the case to be mentioned again.

-- BERNAMA