KOTA TINGGI: Eight Indonesian men pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here yesterday to committing gang robbery on a tanker in Malaysian waters near Tanjung Stapa, Pengerang, more than two weeks ago.
Zainudin, 23, Hasbullah, 35, Ricky, 37, Trim, 36, Jais, 46, Arjadi, 32, Amie, 37, and Zul, 34, pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was read out to them before judge Salawati Djambari.
The eight, along with two other persons still at large, are alleged to have committed gang robbery with dangerous weapons against the crew of MT Merlion 2 which had anchored in the waters at Tanjung Stapa here at 1.50 am on Dec 11.
They were charged under Section 395, read together with Section 397, of the Penal Code, which provides for a maximum jail term of 20 years and whipping upon conviction.
The court set Jan 29 for case management.
The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Juanita Mohd Said of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA). The Indonesians were not represented. — Bernama