Penang Bridge shooting incident: Court sets March 22 for mention

The Sessions Courts here today fixed March 22 for mention of two cases involving a personal bodyguard charged with attempted murder by firing a firearm at five people on the Penang Bridge last year.

In the first case, Judge Roslan Hamid set the date after the prosecution, conducted by deputy public prosecutor Nurul Huda Idris, requested for a new date pending medical reports on the victims and from the chemist.

In the case before Roslan, Ja'afar Halid, 37, was charged with three counts of attempted murder by shooting at K. Arivani, 33; Nurul Huda Ab Aziz, 38, and Lee Hong Boon, 56.

The offences were committed at the exit to the Penang bridge on Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway here between 7.15 pm and 7.30 pm on Dec 1 last year.

In the case before Sessions Court judge Irwan Suaibon, Ja'afar was charged with two counts of attempted murder by shooting at Mohamad Amirul Amin Mohamed Amer, 28, and Puah Bee Joo, 32, at the same time, date and location.

Irwan also set March 22 for mention after deputy public prosecutor Lim Saw Sim, who prosecuted, informed the court that they had also not received the medical and chemist reports.

The charges against Jaafar were made under Section 307 of the Penal Code, which provided an imprisonment for up to 20 years on each count, if found guilty.

Ja'afar was first charged with the offences on Dec 14 last year. However, no plea was recorded as the prosecution requested for him to be sent for mental observation. -- Bernama