KUALA LUMPUR: Five policemen, including an Assistant Superintendent, claimed trial at the Sessions Court today for a gang robbery on a Chinese national last month.
Corporal Khairil Annuar Sulaiman, 39, Corporal Mohd Zaidi Jamaluddin, 35, Corporal Mohd Adrafil Adlan Roslan, 28, Corporal Ahmad Rohafiz Abdul Rani, 39, and Assistant Superintendent Mohd Faizol Ismail, 41, were jointly charged under Section 395 of the Penal Code.
All five, who stood in the dock, said they understood the charge and pleaded not guilty before judge Hamidah Mohamed Deril.
The charge sheet read that they had robbed Zhang Chenxuan of RM140,000 cash at condominium unit in KL Trillion, Jalan Tun Razak at about 5.30pm on Apr 6.
The offence carries a maximum of 20 years jail and whipping.
Deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Muhairi Mohamed Noh urged the court to set bail at RM20,000 for each accused with two sureties.
As additional conditions, he applied for their passports to be surrendered to the court and for them not to harass the victim and prosecution witnesses until disposal of the case.
In mitigation, defence counsel Gurmukh Singh Sandhu who represented Khairul Annuar, Mohd Zaidi, Ahmad Rohafiz and Mohd Faizol, pleaded for a lower bail.
He described the sum proposed by the prosecution as exorbitant, given his clients' monthly salaries of between RM2,000 and RM2,500.
He said his clients were breadwinners of their families and both Khairul Annuar and Zaidi have children with autism.
"The bail amount, which is to ensure their attendance, should not be excessive.
"I humbly ask the court to consider their monthly salaries and to set a reasonable amount.
"All four will not abscond and they will cooperate with the police. They will not harass the victim," he pleaded.
Defence counsel Shah Rizal Abdul Manan, who stood for Mohd Adrafil, said his client's presence in court showed his responsibility in facing the charge.
"They are serving policeman and aware of consequences if they were to abscond.
"I ask the court to consider their backgrounds and impose a minimal bail," he said.
Judge Hamidah set bail at RM8,000 with one surety for each accused.
She allowed the prosecution's application for additional conditions and set June 20 for mention of the case.