Another stupid-ass joke from the govt...??:hmmmm:
December 17, 2007 13:50 PM
31 Demonstrators Acquitted And Discharged Of Attempted Murder
SHAH ALAM, Dec 17 (Bernama) -- The Sessions Court here today acquitted and discharged 31 people charged with attempting to murder a police officer during an illegal assembly organised by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) in front of the Sri Subramaniar temple in Batu Caves, near here, on Nov 25.
Judge Nursinah Adzmi made the decision after allowing the application by Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail to withdraw the charges against them.
Prior to this, all the 31 claimed trial to a number of charges, including attempted murder under Section 149/307 of the Penal Code.
However, out of the 31, only six including five college students were acquitted and discharged of all charges while the rest are still facing other charges.
The six are L. Thiyagarajan, 31, K. Thinagaranpillay, 23, A. Vasantarao, 19, S. Ramesh Kumar, 22, S. Mugilan Dever, 20, and G. Suman, 20.
Of the remaining 25, 16 changed their plea to guilty to the charge of causing damage to seven cars and two gates of the temple under Section 149/440 of the Penal Code.
Eight of the 25 also changed their plea to being in an illegal assembly under Section 27 (5) (a) of the Police Act 1967 while another accused, to an alternative charge of displaying criminal force to put fear into the police officers during the illegal assembly.
During the court proceeding which ended at 1pm, the judge fixed Dec 27 to hear the facts of the cases and for sentencing.
Nursinah also allowed them to be freed on bail of RM500 each in one surety.
The decision brought relief to their families who filled the courtroom since morning.
Lawyer, K. Ragunath on behalf of the defence, thanked the court and Attorney-General for dropping the attempted murder charges on all the accused and to acquit and free the five students of all charges.
-- BERNAMA