KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian Crime Watch Task Force (MyWatch) president Sri Sanjeevan Ramakrishnan has been acquitted by the Seremban High Court of criminal intimidation and extortion that he was accused of committing five years ago.
In her ruling, judge Datin Rohani Ismail concurred with the magistrates’ court decision in earlier acquitting him in 2019.
An elated and relieved Sanjeevan, 38, reacted to the decision by remarking that truth has prevailed
He was accused of trying to extort RM25,000 from Goh Toh Hon, then 43, at the PLUS toll plaza in Nilai at 10.45pm on June 22, 2016. He was alleged to have threatened to expose Goh’s alleged illegal gambling activities if the payment was not made.
He was charged under Section 384 of the Penal Code, which deals with extortion.
It carries upon conviction a maximum jail term of 10 years or fine or whipping, or any two of such punishments.
In April 2018, Sanjeevan was freed by the Seremban Magistrates’ Court, which found that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against him.
Following a notice of appeal filed by the public prosecutor, the Seremban High Court referred the matter back to the magistrates’ court for Sanjeevan to enter defence.
Magistrate Mohd Zaki Abdul Rahman then, again discharged, and acquitted Sanjeevan on the basis that the defence had successfully raised reasonable doubt in the prosecution’s case.
Speaking to The Vibes after the latest acquittal today, Sanjeevan’s lawyer Preakas Sampunathan expressed relief with the decision of the high court in affirming the magistrate’s decision.
“I’m glad her ladyship was indeed convinced that there were no errors of law or facts, which warrant the inference of the high court,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sanjeevan expressed contentment as the accusation towards him can now be put to rest.
“For more than five years, I have been attacked with this alleged extortion, which was used as material to tarnish my image and integrity.
“Finally, today the truth prevailed – the Seremban High Court clarified everything,” he said. – The Vibes, December 10, 2021
