KUCHING: Five farmers charged with voluntarily causing hurt, mischief and intimidation separately claimed trial in Serian Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
Village headman Nyalu Tampa, Sanjan Ambol, Samad Junna were being charged under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt last Aug 27 to Andrew Wong King Kiat who is administrative executive of United Teamtrade Sdn Bhd at a village in Danau Melikin Serian.
Section 323 of the Penal Code carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years’ imprisonment and fine upon conviction.
United Teamtrade is a company issued with a provisional lease of 73,000 ha oil palm over the land, which the three accused claimed to be their Native Customary Right (NCR) land of Kampung Danau Melikin and 22 other Iban communities in the area.
Donny Mambu was accused of using an excavator under his control to damage a bridge across Sungai Danau also last Aug 27, and he is charged with committing mischief and causing damage that comes under Section 427 of the Penal Code. Donny faces a penalty of two years’ jail or fine, or both upon conviction.
Balon Giang was charged with criminal intimidation also last Aug 27.
Balon allegedly intimidated oil palm estate manager Lee Beng Sing by uttering words ‘Kamu jangan kerja sini kalau kamu kerja lagi saya bunuh kamu’ (You can’t work here and if you do so I will shoot and kill you).
Criminal intimidation comes under Section 506 of the Penal Code which provides for two years in jail or fine, or both.
The prosecution officer requested that cases involving Donny and Balon be jointly tried but separately charged since it was a single transaction that call for the same witnesses.
All the accused were released on RM5,000 bail with one surety each pending the trial.
Nyalu, Sanjan and Sasmad will appear in court again for pre-trial case management on Nov 12 and the trial on Dec 3.
Donny and Balon’s case management will be on Oct 31 and trial on Oct 13, presided by Magistrate Portia Tham Ong Leng.
The accused were represented by lawyers Baru Bian, See Chee How and Desmond Kho.
It was learnt that more than 150 villagers turned up in court to show their support when the case was mentioned yesterday.