MyWatch chairman claims trial to hiring illegal worker, extortion

The Malaysian Crime Watch Task Force (MyWatch) chairman Datuk R. Sri Sanjeevan pleaded not guilty to two charges of hiring illegal worker and committing extortion last month.

The charges were read to him through an interpreter at separate courts today.

For the first charge at the Sessions Court, Sanjeevan was accused of intentionally hiring an illegal worker, M. Manivannan, at around 10.45 pm near the Nilai toll plaza of the PLUS Expressway on June 22.

The charge under Section 55B(1) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 provides a fine of up to RM50,000 or jail not exceeding 12 months, or both, if convicted.

Deputy public prosecutors Saiful Hazmi Mohd Saad, Izwan Ariff Ibrahim and Shukor Abu Bakar prosecuted, while Sanjeevan was represented by lawyers Gobind Singh Deo, S. Prakash, Pavin Jay Kumar and Haijan Omar.

Gobind also filed an application for the accused to be allowed to seek medical attention and lodge a police report for alleged assault while on remand.

Judge Fathiyah Idris granted the application.

Sanjeevan is currently held on remand under the Prevention of Crime Act 1959 (POCA) until July 31.

For the second charge read before Magistrate Nurulfitriza Abd Latif, Sanjeevan was charged with intentionally extorting and inciting fear in Goh Toh Hon, 38, on the same day and at the same time and place.

According to the facts of the case, Sanjeevan was accused of having extorted RM25,000 from Goh by threatening to expose the illegal gambling activities allegedly managed by latter.

The charge under Section 384 of the Penal Code carries a maximum jail term of 10 years, or a fine, or whipping, or a combination of any two upon conviction.

Both courts set Aug 1 for remention.