PETALING JAYA - A lorry driver pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court, here, today to robbing a TV news presenter, last week.
Muhammad Qayyum Mazlan, 32, made the plea after the charge was read to him before Judge Jamaludin Mat.
According to the charge sheet, the father of one was alleged to have robbed Khairul Rizuan Azizan, 34, of his belongings which included a black bag worth RM500 and RM100 cash.
The offence was allegedly committed by the roadside of the Perdana Exclusive condominium in Damansara Perdana at about 3.40pm on May 5.
The charge under Section 392 of the Penal Code carries an imprisonment of up to 14 years and shall also be liable to a fine and whipping, if convicted.
During the proceedings, deputy public prosecutor Norhashimah Hashim did not offer bail to the accused as it was a non-bailable offence.
"The offence committed was a serious one as it involves losses and even if the accused is allowed bail, there is a possibility that he will harass the victim and prosecution witnesses.
"This is a case which has gone viral and has caught the public's attention as the victim is a news presenter," she said.
However, counsel Kailash Sharma who represented Muhammad Qayyum in pleading for bail said the accused was not a flight risk.
"This is because he is married and has an eight-year-old son in Teluk Intan.
"Even though it is a non-bailable offence, the court has the discretion to grant bail," he said.
Jamaludin then allowed the accused RM10,000 bail with one surety.
The court also ordered the accused to surrender his passport to the court, report to the nearest police station once a month and to not harass the victim and the prosecution witnesses.
The case will be up for mention on June 20.
Last Friday, Sinar Harian reported that police arrested two siblings to assist in the investigation of a robbery case involving a news presenter in Damansara Perdana.
However, the suspect's 24-year-old sister was released on police bail.
It was reported that a man had tried to chase the suspect who broke the window of his car before being dragged by a Perodua Myvi car the suspect drove.
The video of the incident has since went viral on social media after actress and singer Janna Nick, who happened to be at the scene, uploaded a dashboard camera footage on her Instagram and Tiktok accounts.