Datuk and sons plead not guilty to murdering clerk

PETALING JAYA - A man with the title of Datuk and his two sons pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court in Petaling Jaya today to a charge of causing the death of an Indian national found in a sack two weeks ago.

Second-hand goods trader V Nanta Kumar, 51, along with his two sons, Miren Ram, 24, and Krithik Ram, 22, made the plea after the charge was read before Judge Faiz Dziyauddin.

According to the charge, they are accused, together with another person still at large, of causing the death of the clerk of the family-owned company, A Vinayagamoorthy, 41, with the intention of causing bodily injury likely to result in death.

The offence is allegedly committed at the scrap metal site in Taman Bukit Serdang, Seri Kembangan at 1.30pm on Aug 4.

The charge was made under Section 304(a) of the Penal Code and read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which provides for a maximum penalty of up to 30 years' imprisonment and a fine if convicted.

During the proceeding, Deputy Public Prosecutor Ahmad Zuhaini Mahamad Amin did not propose any bail to be imposed on all the accused as the case fell under provisions that disallowed bail.

However, defense lawyer Datuk Suraj Singh said that although the case fell under the provisions disallowing bail, the court could exercise discretion to offer bail.

"Nanta Kumar suffers from diabetes and a back problem, Miren Ram has asthma, and Krithik Ram was recently involved in an accident.

"The defense does not object if additional conditions are imposed on them," he said, assisted by lawyer Kailash Sharma.

After hearing submissions from both sides, the court allowed all the accused to be released on bail of RM10,000 with one surety.

They are also required to fulfill additional conditions, including surrendering their passports to the court and reporting to the nearest police station every month.

The court set Sep 19 for the next mention of the case.

The victim's body was found in a sack at the scrap metal site in Taman Bukit Serdang near here on Aug 6.

He was believed to have been beaten to death.

A total of 13 individuals, including 10 men and three women and the victim's employer, were arrested to assist in the investigation.