Six in nudist event jailed and fined

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BALIK PULAU: Six men out of 10 people charged with causing public unrest for stripping at a public place were sentenced to a month’s jail and fined RM5,000 each, in default six months’ jail, for committing the offence.

Magistrate Muhammad Najib Ismail handed down the sentence on Loh Kok Hong , 41; Mu Wai Peng, 34; Justin Ang Ji Keng, 24; Yam Kam Hoong, 54; Lionel Loo Joo Hong, 52, and Nandakumar Rajumaniam, 40, after the pleaded guilty to the charge.

Yam also pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 292 (a) of the Penal Code for producing an obscene video of the event and was sentenced to six months jail.

They were ordered to serve the jail sentence from yesterday.

Before handing down the sentence, Muhammad Najib said Malaysia was a unique country because it had people from various races, religions, language, culture and way of life, but they could still unite.

“The Malaysia people is concerned with matters on decency, the people are not comfortable with negative behaviour that clearly is not decent. Action like this should be prevented from happening again.

“Therefore, the court handed down a sentence that could be a lesson and reminder to others,” he added.

The four others, three men and a woman, pleaded not guilty and claimed trial to the charge.

They are Chew Tok Hwa (she),57; Chan Chin Weng (she), 27; Teh Guan Hoon (she), 37, and Kong Meng Leong (he),38.

They are released on a bail of RM4,000 with one surety and the court set Oct 16 for mention of the case.

All 10 of them were charged with committing the offence at a beach at Teluk Kampi, on the Penang side of the National Park at Teluk Bahang between 3pm and 6pm on May 30 this year.

The charge, under Section 294(a) of the Penal Code, carries an imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine, or both, if found guilty.

Prosecution Unit Chief Datuk Razali Che Ani and deputy public prosecutor Edward Chan prosecuted.

Lawyers Jason Khor Jit Cheng and Allen Choong represented Teh and Loh, respectively.

Another lawyer, Suppiah Thangaveloo, also held a watching brief for Loh. The other accused are unrepresented. — Bernama