PETALING JAYA: A man seen in a viral video trying to rescue a stray dog from being snared by dog catchers recently was charged with disrupting public servants.
Koh Tat Meng, however, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him before magistrate M. Barath today.
Clad in a denim shirt, the 47-year-old trader was calm when he entered the dock at about 11am.
“Tidak bersalah dan minta dibicarakan (not guilty and claim trial),” he said in a firm voice after the court interpreter asked for his plea.
Several people believed to be animal activists were present during the proceedings and sat at the front row of the court’s public gallery.
Some of them had even brought along placards with messages to show their support to Koh.
However, a policeman who noticed the placards told the supporters to remove them from the court before proceedings began.
“What do you think you are doing… this is a courtroom… show some respect,” the policeman said.
Koh was charged with obstructing Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) officer Mohd Sadruddin Mohd Rosli, 30, from carrying out his duty near Vista Millennium Condominium, near Puchong at 11.22am on Oct 3.
The offence falls under Section 186 of the Penal Code which carries a maximum two years jail and RM10,000 fine or both upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Siti Zubaidah Mahat asked the court to impose RM5,000 bail.
However, counsel N. Rajesh pleaded for minimum bail stating that his client wss a sole breadwinner to his family.
“He has three children and also needs to take care of his ailing parents,” he said.
The court set RM2,000 bail with one surety and fixed Nov 26 for mention.
A four-minute video showing several MPSJ personnel trying to capture a dog which was quivering under a car, went viral on social media recently.
A man is then seen trying to intervene and asking the officers not to capture the canine, as a woman records the entire incident.
On Oct 8, Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin expressed her regrets over the incident.
Her highness, who is the Royal Patron of Stray Free Selangor (SFS) campaign, said she was disappointed and saddened that such cruelty was still taking place in the community despite the numerous awareness campaigns on strays.
She was also informed state Local Government, Public Transportation and New Village Development executive councillor Ng Sze Han had apologised over the abusive conduct of the MPSJ staff.
Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin said a proper procedure of catching strays should be followed strictly to ensure the wellbeing of animals and the safety of enforcement officers.