Penang Motorcyclist Who Insulted PDRM Officer Needs a BM to Hokkien Translator in Court, Pleads Not Guilty

Previously, we shared how a Penang motorcyclist was arrested and remanded for 3 days for allegedly hurling insults and obscenities at a traffic police officer when he was stopped for running a red light in Ayer Itam, Penang.

Well, the 25-year-old suspect has been charged under Section 509 of the Penal Code for using words intended to insult the modesty of a person in court earlier today.

The suspect was charged in court earlier today

According to China Press, the man was charged under the aforementioned provision for throwing insults and obscenities at a traffic police officer at a bus stop in Ayer Itam, as seen in the viral video.

However, when the charge was read to him, the suspect didn’t respond, prompting the court to ask him 3 times whether he understood the charge he was facing and whether he pleaded guilty to it.

Still, the accused didn’t answer, and after a brief pause, he vaguely said “trial” to the court.

The court again asked him whether he understood the charge and pleaded guilty, to which he replied in Bahasa Melayu whether the charge, which was read in the national language, could be translated. 

The suspect asked for a Hokkien translator as he couldn’t understand the charge in Malay

The suspect then said in Mandarin, “What did he say?” to which the judge asked whether the accused needed a translator.

He then asked for a translator who could speak the Chinese dialect of Hokkien. Following this, the court proceedings had to be temporarily interrupted to wait for the translator to arrive.

After the translator arrived, the suspect became aware that he could face up to 5 years in jail, a fine or both if he pleaded guilty.

The judge lowered the bail to RM8,000 after the suspect asked for lower bail as he was unemployed

He then pleaded not guilty and requested a trial, to which the judge set a bail of RM9,000 and asked him not to harass the police officer.

The accused then asked for leniency as he was unemployed and single, to which the judge agreed to reduce bail to RM8,000 under the condition that there was a guarantor and that he wouldn’t harass the victim.

Afterwards, the suspect said that his mobile phone had been seized and he couldn’t contact his guarantor.

The presiding judge then announced the case would be heard on 14 November 2024.

So, what do you guys think of this case? Share your thoughts with us in the comments. 

Also read: Penang Motorcyclist Hurls Insults & Obscenities at PDRM Officer After Being Pulled Over, Gets Arrested