BUTTERWORTH: Two friends have pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court to charges of committing an armed gang robbery in Butterworth last week. The accused, K. Sreedharan Naidu and J. Moohilan Naidu, both aged 33, appeared before Judge Nor Azah Kasran to present their pleas.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the duo is accused of robbing Syed Jamalludin Syed Hamid, 57, of a Honda Accord and cash totaling RM54,000. The incident allegedly took place at the Taman Bukit Kecil Intersection at 12:30 p.m. on December 6, during which the accused were reportedly armed with a machete.

The charges brought against the two men fall under Sections 396 and 397 of the Penal Code, which carry potential penalties of up to 20 years in prison and whipping upon conviction. In the court proceedings, bail was set at RM10,000 for each of the accused, with the condition of one surety per individual. Additionally, Judge Kasran ordered that the accused report to their nearest police station on a monthly basis.

Deputy Public Prosecut
or Nurul Nadia Jamal represented the prosecution in the case, while lawyer S. Morgan defended the two accused, who work as a lorry driver and a lorry attendant, respectively. The court has scheduled January 15 for the next mention, during which document submissions are expected to take place.