KUCHING: A local man pleaded not guilty in front of two separate courts to charges of possessing a pistol without a licence and possessing a police uniform without valid reasons in a car in front of a hotel at King Centre on April 12.
The two charges were read separately in the Session Court and Magistrate Court yesterday.
Under the first charge, Chia, 31, from Siburan was accused under Section 8 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971 for possessing a MP-654K Cal 4.5MM pistol without a licence.
If found guilty, he could be sentenced up to 14 years in prison and a minimum of six strokes of the cane.
Musli Abdul Hamid set a new mention date for case management on May 22, and did not offer any bail for the accused.
He ordered the accused to be remanded until the case was concluded.
For the second charge, Chia, who is not a police officer, was accused of possessing a police uniform with insignia without stating his purpose of keeping the uniform.
As such, he was charged under Section 89(a) of the Police Act 1967 and could be sentenced under Section 94 of the same Act, which carries a maximum fine of RM500 or imprisonment of up to six months or both, if found guilty.
Assistant Registrar Sandy Yvette Freddy allowed the accused to be released on bail of RM800 with a local surety, and set a new mention date for the case on May 25.
Both offences were committed at the car park in front of a hotel at King Centre, around 11.30 pm on April 12.
It was understood that during the incident, the police conducted a search on the accused’s car and found a pistol and a packet containing six bullets on his left waist. In addition, a police uniform with badges was found in the car driven by the accused.
The prosecution was carried out separately by Deputy Public Prosecutor Norshafatihah Nor Azmi and Inspector Merylene Lindan Andrew Mang.
Meanwhile, the accused was represented by lawyers from Bong, Tieh, Tiong & Kiu Advocates for the charge under Section 89 of the Police Act 1967.
