Govt retiree claims trial to fresh charge of assaulting non-Muslim
19 Mar 2025, 03:21 PM
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/...ing-non-muslim/

PETALING JAYA: A retired civil servant has claimed trial in the Johor Bahru magistrates’ court to a fresh charge of slapping a non-Muslim man for eating in public during Ramadan.

Abdul Razak Ismail, 65, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out before magistrate A Shaarmini today, Harian Metro reported

Razak was charged with voluntarily causing hurt to the victim, 21-year-old Elijah Ling, at a shopping mall in Johor Bahru at 6.15pm on March 16.

The charge was framed under Section 323 of the Penal Code, which provides for up to two years’ imprisonment, a maximum fine of RM2,000, or both, upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutors Nor Afiqah Musa and Nur Fatihah Nizam prosecuted while the accused was represented by Salleh Togimin.

Afiqah proposed that bail be fixed at RM8,000 but Salleh requested a lower amount, saying Razak was a retiree with three children, including one who is still in university.

Shaarmini fixed bail at RM2,000 with one surety and set April 29 for mention.

Earlier, Razak pleaded guilty to a charge of voluntarily causing hurt before he disputed the facts of the case. This prompted Shaarmini to reject the guilty plea and order that the case go to trial.

He was earlier charged with committing the offence at 3.45pm on March 16 at the Johor Bahru shopping mall.

However, before a trial date could be set, the prosecution requested a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA), saying they were ordered to refer the case to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).

The AGC later said the accused was given a DNAA as a technical issue had arisen with the initial charge, adding that this had been resolved.