A MAN alleged to have acted as a runner for illegal moneylenders was brought before the Sessions Court and Magistrates’ Court in Batu Pahat today on charges of setting a vehicle on fire and issuing threats against three men in a series of cases said to have been carried out in a “road show” manner.
The accused, Liew Choon Kian, 46, a door installation worker and father of one, pleaded not guilty to three charges after they were read out to him before Sessions Court judge Osman Affendi Mohd Shalleh and Magistrate Nurasidah A Rahman.
In the Sessions Court, Liew was charged with using fire to burn a car belonging to a 31-year-old man at Taman Soga at about 4am on September 22.
The charge was framed under Section 435 of the Penal Code, which carries a penalty of up to 14 years’ imprisonment and a fine upon conviction. The judge allowed him bail of RM10,000 with one surety.
Separately, in the Magistrates’ Court, Liew faced two counts of criminal intimidation for allegedly placing threatening notes warning of arson at the homes of two men aged 59 and 73.
The acts were said to have taken place at Taman Santalia, Tongkang Pechah, and Taman Setia Jaya between 4am and 5am on September 18 and October 3.
The charges were brought under Section 507 of the Penal Code, which provides for a jail term of up to two years for each offence.
According to reports lodged with police, authorities received information about an unidentified man who set a car on fire and left notes threatening further attacks, including the message, “pay the debt or we will come again to burn the house”.
Investigations found that the accused was also allegedly involved in similar cases in Johor Bahru and was paid RM500 for issuing threats and RM800 for burning vehicles.
The prosecution in both courts was conducted by deputy public prosecutors Firdaus Ruslan and Farah Wahidah Mohd Sharip, while the accused was represented by Haryanti Othman from the National Legal Aid Foundation.
Earlier, the prosecution did not offer bail, citing the accused’s prior criminal record, the likelihood of further charges being brought in the near future and concerns that he might abscond.
The magistrate later allowed the prosecution’s application for no bail, and all cases were fixed for mention on January 30 for document submission and the appointment of counsel. -December 31, 2025
