Three claim trial over fire incidents at churches, school

2010/02/09

TAIPING: Three of four men charged last week with causing mischief by fire at two churches and a school here have claimed trial. Abdul Fattah Shaharuddin, 29, Andidi Rosidi, 22, and Muhamad Ab Wahab, 20, pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court yesterday when the charges were read to them.

The fourth accused, who is 18 years old and in detention at the Sungai Petani juvenile detention centre, will have his plea recorded when his case is mentioned at the juvenile court in March.

Fattah, from Taman Palma 1, and Muhamad, from Taman Mewah, both in Kamunting, were alleged to have committed the offence at the All Saints Church in Jalan Taming Sari here between 12.01am and 3.30am on Jan 10.

Andidi, also from Taman Mewah, Kamunting, was alleged to have committed the offence at SMK Convent in Jalan Convent at the same time while the juvenile from Taman Desa Jaya allegedly committed the offence at the Taiping Catholic Church in Jalan Convent here at the same time.

Sessions Court judge Meor Sulaiman Ahmad Tarmizi fixed April 9 for mention.

Fattah, Andidi and Muhamad were later released after their families posted bail.

Earlier, their lawyer Naran Singh applied for a lower bail on the ground that the bail imposed last week by the magistrate's court where they were first produced was very high.

He said the RM30,000 bail imposed on each of them was "excessive", adding that "the purpose of bail was merely to secure attendance".

He also said they were innocent until proven guilty, and added that their families, being villagers, were unable to post the high bail because they were low income earners.

Meor Sulaiman then set bail at RM5,000 each with one surety. The judge also ordered the trio to report at the police station here every Saturday between 9am and 5pm.