[UPDATED] 9 men, 3 teens charged with flouting SOPs during funeral march

BUTTERWORTH – Nine men and three teenagers are charged for violating the standard operating procedures (SOPs) on October 13 by participating in a funeral march in Sg Jawi.

Defendants R. Kumar, 39; G. Rukumaran, 33; M. Kanes Kumar, 28; A. Elango, 35, A. Veera Putthiran, 19; S. Muniswaran, 30; and S. Rishantheren, 23, pleaded guilty to the charges read out by an interpreter before sessions court judge Norhayati Mohamad Yunus.

Five other defendants – D. Stephen Dass, 35; M. Sivasangar, 49; K. Harjun, 18; Mazlan Hassan Sha, 35, and a 17-year-old boy – claimed trial and pleaded not guilty.

All of them were charged with violating the directives of the health director-general by conducting a funeral march for religious purposes in the local area with Covid-19 infections.

Norhayati imposed a fine of RM3,500 on each of the seven accused and if they did not pay, they would face two months’ imprisonment.

The offence was allegedly committed in Jalan Besar Kerian Kedah, Sg Jawi in the Seberang Prai Selatan district on October 13, at about 2pm.

All of them have been charged under Rule 9, Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures Within Local Areas of Infection)(No. 3) 2021, which is punishable under Rule 17 (1).

If convicted, they can be fined not more than RM50,000 or imprisoned not exceeding six months, or both.

Deputy public prosecutor Aisyah Al Humayrah Kamaruzaman represented the government, while lawyer Anbananthan Yathiraju represented seven who pleaded guilty and the rest went unrepresented.

During the proceedings, Aisyah applied to the court to impose a fine of RM15,000 on those pleading guilty.

She said appropriate punishment should be taken by considering the difficulties of frontline officers who work hard to reduce the number of Covid-19 cases, as well as serving a reminder to the public.

The seven accused appealed for reduced fines on grounds that they are from poor families, with some having lost their jobs, as well as having many dependents.

The judge also allowed a bail of RM4,500 with one surety for each of those who pleaded not guilty.

For the 17-year-old, he is allowed out on a RM1,500 bail with his parents as guarantors.

The court set November 24 for remention. – The Vibes, October 21, 2021