KUALA LUMPUR, 14 May 2009: Three members of the police’s Special Action Unit (UTK) from the Bukit Aman headquarters and a trader pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here today to robbery.
The UTK accused were Sabaruddin Harun, 32, Ahmad Razi Abd Talib, 27, and Aminuddin Salim, 28, who have been suspended from work, while the trader was Zaidi Abdullah @ Mohd Yusoff, 34.
They are alleged to have robbed eight people aged between 16 and 40 of eight mobile phones, spectacles, perfumes, RM320, a gold ring, a gold necklace and a silver wristwatch at No. 115, Jinjang Selatan Tambahan, Sentul, at 11pm on 11 April.
If convicted under Section 395 of the Penal Code, they are liable to 20 years in jail and whipping.
Sabaruddin was also charged with having a Glock firearm during the robbery under Section 4 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971 which carries life imprisonment and whipping not more than six strokes.
Judge Zainal Abidin Kamaruddin allowed Razi, Zaidi and Aminuddin bail of RM10,000 with one surety each but told them not to leave Kuala Lumpur and Selangor without court permission.
Sabaruddin remains in custody due to the seriousness of the offence despite defence lawyer Pritam Singh Doal requesting for bail, saying that his client had a bone disease.
Zainal fixed 23 May for the re-mention of the case and to hear Sabaruddin’s medical report so that the court could consider his bail application.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Lee Keng Fatt prosecuted. — Bernama
justice4all says
I am increasingly disturbed to read that members of our police force are involved in many of the robbery cases over the past few years. Instead of being protectors of the public, they have become robbers. This is a serious breach of trust by those charged with keeping the law. It is the case of ‘pagar makan padi’.
In view of the increasing crime rate from among members of the police force, justice meted out should not only meet what they deserve but also be a deterrent to others within the police force.