PUTRAJAYA: A member of Global Ikhwan Service and Business Holdings (GISB) was charged at the magistrate's court here today with threathening a woman to withdraw a police report lodged against the company.
Mohamad Riza Makar, 39, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him by the court interpreter before Magistrate Ahmad Afiq Hasan.
According to the charge sheet, the businessman is accused of threatening the 25-year-old woman at a parking lot in Presint 4 here at 10pm on Sept 9.
The businessman allegedly threatened the woman by saying: "Kita tunggu... Kita tahu dekat mana rumah, suami dan keluarga" (We will wait... We know where your house, husband, and family are).
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Sabri Othman prosecuted while Riza was represented by lawyer Zulfikri Ulul Azmin.
Sabri proposed a RM30,000 bail with two sureties, should the court decide to grant it.
He also proposed the court impose additional conditions, including that the accused would not interfere with the victim and must report to the nearest police station every month as well as surrender his passport.
Zulfikri appealed for leniency on the grounds that the threat did not involve murder or injury to the victim.
"A high bail amount is unreasonable for the court to consider the prosecution's request.
"This is a minor case, not a serious one. The threat does not involve murder or injury to an individual.
"The court should consider that the accused will not run away, which justifies a lower bail amount.
"The proposed amount is excessively high and beyond the accused's means. He operates his own business with a monthly income of RM4,000 while supporting three wives and ten children," he said.
Zulfikri also said the case is unrelated to GISB and the accused does not hold any interest in the firm, despite existing business connections.
Riza also appealed to the court, noting that his wife recently gave birth less than a month ago.
"My wife just had a baby less than a month ago, and registration has not yet been done.
"Considering it is the school holidays, I have seven children to provide for their activities and school preparations. I plead with the judge to reduce the bail," he said.
The court granted bail for RM10,000 with one surety. The court also ordered the accused to report to the police station the first week of every month.
The court set Oct 18 as mention.