IPOH: Thirty-six members of a secret society known as 'Gang 04’ were charged in the Sessions Court here today with becoming members of an organised criminal group.
However, no plea was recorded from them after the charge, read out in Malay and Tamil, was read out before judge Murtazadi Amran.
All of them, who are between the age of 20 and 60, were charged with becoming members of the criminal group between Jan 1, 2015 and Jan 27 this year in the district of Kinta here.
The charge, under Section 130V(1) of the Penal Code, provides an imprisonment for up to 20 years, if found guilty.
Sixteen of them, namely Mohamed Shariff Mohamed Ibrahim, Muhamed Sidik Mohamed Ibrahim, M.Perbakaran, R.Sargunan, B. Murli, M. Ganesan, N. Michael Raj, M.Selva, S.Jesudass, K.Kartikkesan, S.D Kevan, P. Jeventhyren, L.Tamil Selven, S.Kalidas, K.Arun and Abdul Rahman Subbaiah Salim were represented by their respective lawyers.
The others, A.Kughan, J.Thruselvam, K.Thiruchelvan, K.Kugan, A.Samuel Dhinakaran, K.Sattiyarao, S.Vijendran, B.K Chandran, S. Thatchana Moorthy, M.Munian, R.Kesavan, P.A Fatri, F.Niclos, S.K Jagathesan, R. Paramesh Rao, A.Govalsamy, T.S Kavitheian, C.Tinabalan, K.Selvam and T.Kamal were not represented.
Deputy public prosecutors Saiful Edris Zainuddin and Mohd Izhanudin Alias prosecuted.
The court set March 20 for mention.