Four local men, including a 16-year-old school student, have been charged at the Magistrate’s Court here on Wednesday over a reckless firecracker stunt on a busy road in Skudai last Sunday.
The four accused, P Ruban, 20, S Tharun, 18, H Periuthiv, 19, and the teenager, pleaded not guilty after separate charges were read to them before magistrates A Shaarmini, Atifah Hazimah Wahab, Nurzihan Abdul Rehman and Nur Fatin Mohamad Farid.
According to the charge sheets, they allegedly acted negligently by throwing firecrackers onto a public road where other vehicles were passing, potentially endangering other road users.
The offence allegedly took place at about 1.30am on Sunday at Jalan Skudai-Gelang Patah, near the Taman Nesa traffic lights in Skudai.
Ruban, Tharun and Periuthiv were charged under Section 286 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail term of six months, a fine of up to RM2,000, or both, upon conviction.
As the fourth accused is a minor, the court may impose measures including a warning, a good behaviour bond with conditions, a fine, community service, placement in an approved school or detention at the Henry Gurney School if convicted.
The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutors Eizlan Azhar, Adilah Farzana Che Ad, Izdhiyah Zahirah Ahmad Ghazali and Nor Hidayah Mohd Tarmizi, while all four accused were represented by lawyer T Monisha Dhaarcayinii.
The court allowed bail ranging from RM1,500 to RM3,000 for each accused and fixed Dec 3 for the next mention to facilitate document submission.
Meanwhile, two other men, M Rubenkumar, 23, and Muhammad Irsyad, 19, also pleaded not guilty to separate charges of riding motorcycles in a manner that caused danger or obstruction to traffic.
Their charges stated that they allegedly rode in circles at the same location and time, potentially endangering other road users and causing unreasonable obstruction to traffic.
They were charged under Section 48(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which carries a maximum jail term of one year, a fine of up to RM5,000, or both, upon conviction.
The prosecution was conducted by traffic prosecuting officer Inspector Mohd Khairul Azhar Pakrudin, while both accused were represented by Monisha.
The court granted each of them bail of RM2,500 with one surety and fixed Dec 11 for the next mention to facilitate document submission.
The court proceedings followed a video showing a group of men setting off firecrackers in the middle of the road near the Taman Nesa traffic lights in Skudai, which went viral on social media on Nov 10.
The incident was believed to have occurred at around 1.30am on Sunday along Jalan Skudai-Gelang Patah, drawing public attention over the group’s dangerous actions on a road used by other motorists.
Following the video’s circulation, police launched an investigation and arrested several individuals believed to be involved.
Johor Bahru Utara district police chief Assistant Commissioner Azrol Anuar Nor said four local men aged between 16 and 25 were arrested during an operation at about 7.30pm on Sunday.
Three more men aged between 19 and 23 were subsequently arrested on Tuesday, bringing the total number of suspects detained to seven.
Of the seven, six were charged in court on Wednesday, while the remaining individual was released to be used as a prosecution witness.
