Fifty-one Malaysian-Indians, including a lawmaker, will stand trial in May for allegedly taking part in an illegal rally held by a Hindu rights group in 2007, even as 14 others pleaded guilty at a court.
The 65 men have been charged with participating in the demonstration organised by Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) to protest alleged marginalisation of the community in the multi-racial country. They were also accused of damaging public property during the unprecedented November 25, 2007 protests. There was chaos at the sessions court yesterday when a lawyer and three members of the public traded barbs at the start of court proceedings involving the Hindraf members, the New Straits Times reported today.
Just as counsel G K Ganesan, who was representing 62 of the accused, began explaining the consequences of pleading guilty, shouts broke out from the public gallery. One person stood up and told all the accused not to plead guilty, to which Ganesan retorted, "I am talking to my clients. Who are you to tell them what to do?" The proceedings were stopped for a brief period and after resumption, 14 of the 65 accused decided to plead guilty. They admitted to the charge of participating in illegal assembly and to causing mischief by damaging public property.
Judge Hasbi Hasan fixed tomorrow for sentencing. The 51 who claimed trial, including MP N Gobalakrishnan, will be tried for five days beginning May 11.
