Two friends have claimed trial in the Sessions Court over allegations of participating in a gang robbery involving a gold necklace worth more than RM32,000 earlier this month.
The accused, Nagorkani Basheerali, 36, and M. Sarawana, 56, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read before Judge Mazuliana Abdul Rashid.
According to the charge sheet, the duo allegedly acted together in a gang robbery involving a gold thali necklace belonging to 65-year-old victim A. Ambigavathy.
The necklace, valued at RM32,204, was allegedly snatched in front of a morning market at approximately 10.30am on June 5.
The charge was framed under Section 395 of the Penal Code, which carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years, as well as a fine or whipping upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Noor Syafina Mohd Radzuan opposed bail for Nagorkani, citing his status as a foreign national from India and the potential risk of absconding.
However, she informed the court that if bail was granted, stringent conditions should be imposed, including a high bail amount and the surrender of his passport.
Defence lawyer Gursharonjit Kaur, representing both accused, appealed for lower bail, arguing that her clients worked as a restaurant employee and a property agent respectively and were the sole breadwinners supporting their families.
After hearing submissions from both sides, the court denied bail for Nagorkani.
Meanwhile, Sarawana was granted bail of RM10,000 with two Malaysian sureties.
The court also ordered both men to surrender their passports until the conclusion of the case.
The matter has been fixed for case mention and document submission on July 8.
