PETALING JAYA: The 'hotpot Datuk' and his friend who were involved in the assault of a young couple at a restaurant near here pleaded guilty to the offence.
Datuk Tan Wai Khan, 42, and Ang Mow Loong, 39, admitted to assaulting the couple and causing public nuisance after they were charged at the magistrate's court here today.
The duo also made their second public apology before the proceedings in front of several pressmen who were waiting for them outside the courtroom.
They were jointly charged with two counts of assaulting Magdelene Wong Xhung Yi, 31, and Lee Dek Quan, 26, at a restaurant near Tropicana Avenue about 9pm on Jan 12.
They were also accused of committing public nuisance which distressed the restaurant's workers and customers at the same place and time.
Wai Khan also pleaded guilty to additional two assault charges of the same persons at the same place and time.
The offences falls under Section 323 and Section 290 of the Penal Code which carries maximum of a year's imprisonment and RM2,000 fine or both.
However, Wai Khan claimed trial to causing damage through act of mischief by breaking dishes belongs to Kwan Pei Choon at the same place and time.
The offences falls under Section 427 which carries maximum five years' imprisonment or fine or both upon conviction.
Magistrate Nurshahira Abdul Salim fixed April 2 for sentencing.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Siti Zubaidah Mahat asked the court to impose RM7,000 bail for each charge.
However, counsel Datuk Suraj Singh who representing both accused pleaded for minimum bail stating that his clients had given full cooperation during investigation.
"Bail is just to secure the attendance of my client during court hearing.
"Both of them are company directors, thus, have a low risk to abscond," he said.
The court set RM10,000 and RM4,000 bail for all offences against Wai Khan and Mow Loong respectively.
Wai Khan had prior to this posted an apology over the incident via a recorded video.
He said both of them would accept any punishment meted out by the authorities and admitted that it was an incident which could have been avoided.
Wai Khan said the situation escalated as he and his friend were intoxicated during the incident.
He said he felt embarrassed when a man younger than him asked them to lower their voices in the premises.
Footage of the incident, which was captured on a smartphone, went viral on social media, triggering outrage among netizens.