Businessman linked to GISB claims trial in Putrajaya court

PUTRAJAYA: A 39-year-old businessman linked to GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd claimed trial to a charge of criminal intimidation against a woman at a magistrate court, here.

The accused, Mohamad Riza Makar, pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Ahmad Afiq Hasan on Wednesday (Sept 18).

Mohamad Riza allegedly threatened a 25-year-old woman for refusing to withdraw her police report.

According to the charge sheet, the accused threatened the victim by saying, “Kami tahu dekat mana rumah, suami dan keluarga. (We know where your house, husband and family are.)”

It is believed he committed the offence at Galeria parking lot in Presint 4, Putrajaya at about 10pm on Sept 9.

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He was charged under Section 506 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation, which carries a penalty of up to two years in prison or a fine, or both, upon conviction.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Sabri Othman asked for bail to be set at RM30,000 with two sureties, the passport to be surrendered to the court, and for Mohamad Riza to report to the police station once a month.

However, lawyer Zulfikri Ulul Azmin, who represented Mohamad Riza, argued that the bail amount was too high as his client was only a businessman with a monthly income of RM4,000.

Zulfikri added that Mohamad Riza has three wives and 10 children to care for and asked for the bail to be lowered.

The lawyer claimed the offence did not involve serious threats and was not linked to any recent GISB cases that had grabbed headlines.

DPP Mohd Sabri refuted this, saying the offence had affected the victim’s mental state and that the claim of no GISB connection was untrue as the accused had stated he is a member of GISB.

Mohamad Riza also requested lower bail, citing a recent birth of one of his children and the need for money to prepare his children for school.

Magistrate Ahmad Afiq allowed bail at RM10,000 with one surety, asked for Mohamad Riza’s international passport to be surrendered to the court, and required him to report to the police station nearest to his residence once a month.

On Sept 11, police rescued 402 children, comprising 201 boys and 201 girls aged between one and 17, from care homes in Selangor and Negri Sembilan in a rescue operation codenamed Ops Global.

On Sept 13, police revealed they were investigating allegations that 13 of the rescued children were sodomised.

A total of 171 suspects, aged between 17 and 64, were arrested, including a teacher and dorm caretakers.