Alleged gunman claims trial to seven charges
KOTA BARU: A travel agency manager has pleaded not guilty to seven charges, including illegal possession of a firearm, at the Sessions Court here.

Hafizul Hawari, 38, claimed trial to all the charges read out to him before judge Nik Habri Muhamad yesterday.

Earlier this month, the accused was sought by the police in connection with a shooting incident at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). He was arrested here about 38 hours after the incident.

For the first charge, Hafizul is accused of illegally possessing a Glock 19 Austria pistol under Section 8 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971, which provides for a sentence of up to 14 years in prison and a minimum of six lashes of the cane, upon conviction.

For the second charge, he is accused of possessing 33 rounds of PMC 380 Auto bullets without a valid licence under Section 8(a) of the Firearms Act 1960, punishable under the same section, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison, a fine not exceeding RM10,000 or both, upon conviction.

For the third charge, Hafizul is accused of possessing a clear plastic package containing ball-shaped firecrackers without a permit, under Section 8 of the Explosives Act 1957, punishable under the same Act, which carries a maximum jail term of seven years, a fine of RM10,000 or both, upon conviction.

For the fourth, fifth and sixth charges, Hafizul is alleged to have in possession three identification cards belonging to three different individuals aged 29, 34, and 35, under Regulation 25(1)(o) of the National Registration Regulations 1990.

Day in court: Hafizul being brought to the Sessions Court in Kota Baru, Kelantan. — Bernama

If convicted under this regulation, he can be sentenced to up to three years in prison, a fine of RM20,000 or both.

For the seventh charge, the accused is alleged to have driven a white Honda Civic car with a fake registration number, in violation of Section 108(3)(f) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

If convicted under this section, there is a minimum fine of RM5,000 and a maximum of RM20,000 or imprisonment for a minimum of one year and a maximum of five years, or both.

All the alleged offences were committed in a Honda Civic car in the compound of a private hospital here at around 3pm on April 15, Bernama reported.

The prosecution was handled by Kelantan state prosecution director Muhammad Zaki Abdul Kudos, deputy public prosecutors Ahmad Faiz Fitri Mohamad and Siti Edabayu Subhan, while the accused was not represented.

During the proceedings, Hafizul requested bail and permission to make a phone call to appoint a lawyer.

Nik Habri did not grant bail for the charges involving possession of a pistol, ammunition and ball-shaped firecrackers, but allowed bail of RM10,000 for the three charges of possessing other people’s identification cards, and RM10,000 for the fake car registration number charge.

The court allowed the accused to be remanded at Sungai Buloh Prison in Selangor and set May 23 for the next hearing for case management and lawyer appointment.

According to the news reports, during the shooting incident on April 15, a firecracker was let off in the direction of travel agency owner Farah Md Isa at KLIA at 1.20am before two shots where fired, causing her bodyguard to be injured.
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KOTA BARU: A travel agency manager has pleaded not guilty to seven charges, including illegal possession of a firearm, at the Sessions Court here.