JOHOR BAHRU — An elderly man who slapped a non-Muslim youth at a convenience store was recharged at the Magistrate’s Court here today with voluntarily causing hurt.
Abdul Razak Ismail, 65, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out to him before Magistrate A. Shaarmini.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nor Afiqah Musa informed the court that the prosecution had received new instructions from the State Prosecution Director to proceed with the charge against the accused after a technical issue that arose this morning.
According to the amended charge, Abdul Razak is accused of voluntarily causing hurt to Elijah Ling Zhao Zhong, 22, at the convenience store here at 6.15 pm on Sunday.
The government pensioner is accused of committing the offence at the store in a shopping mall in Tampoi.
The charge, under Section 323 of the Penal Code, carries a maximum one-year jail term or a RM2,000 fine or both.
The court set bail at RM2,000 in one surety, after hearing arguments by the deputy public prosecutor who asked for RM8,000 bail, which Abdul Razak’s lawyer said was too high for the pensioner who is supporting three children.
Earlier this morning, Abdul Razak was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) after he had pleaded guilty but disputed the facts of the case which were read out in court. The magistrate rejected his guilty plea and ordered him to enter his defence, but the deputy public prosecutor informed the court that the case would be referred back to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC)
In a statement, the AGC said the DNAA was granted due to a technical issue with the charged filed against him this morning.
With the issue resolved, the court could re-charge Abdul Razak this afternoon.
The AGC also said that it is committed to ensuring that all parties receive due justice in accordance with the provisions of the law.
Nor Afiqah Musa and Nur Fatihah Mohd Nizam were the deputy public prosecutors while Mohd Salleh Togimin represented Abdul Razak. – March 19, 2025