KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 29): Ten men, including two state assemblymen and a teacher, were charged in the Sessions Court in six states today for their alleged links with the LTTE terrorist group.

Two charges were filed by the prosecution for their alleged involvement, one of which is for giving support to the terrorist group, framed under Section 130J (1) (a) of the Penal Code which provides an imprisonment for life, or for a term not exceeding 30 years or with fine, and shall also be liable to forfeiture of any property used or intended to be used in connection with the commission of the offence, if found guilty.

The other charge is for possession of items associated with the terrorist group, which is an offence under Section 130JB(1)(a) of the Penal Code, whereby those found guilty shall be punished with imprisonment for up to seven years or with fine, and shall also be liable to forfeiture of the items concerned.

At the Sessions Court in Melaka, Gadek assemblyman G. Saminathan, 34;  Seremban Jaya assemblyman P. Gunasekaran, 60; and a chief officer of a corporation, S. Chandru, 38, were charged with giving support to LTTE during an event at Dewan Kasturi Ayer Keroh, Jalan Utama, Taman Ayer Keroh Heights here from 8.30pm to 10.50pm on Nov 28, 2018.

Saminathan and Chandru also faced a second charge with possessing items connected to the terrorist group in their handphones.

Saminathan was charged with committing the offence at the office of the State Executive Councillor (Exco) in charge of Unity, Human Resources and Consumer Affairs at the Chief Minister’s Office, Kompleks Seri Negeri here at 10.25am last Oct 10.

The charge for possession of items linked to LTTE against  Chandru was made at the Alor Gajah Sessions Court, where he was charged with committing the offence  at No 15, Lot 1802, Kampung Bukit Balai here at 10.20 am also on Oct 12.

At the Kuala Kangsar Sessions Court in Perak, technician S. Arivainthan, 27, and taxi driver V. Balamurugan, 37, were charged with giving support to the LTTE at an event held at Kuala Kangsar Municipal Council Hall between 6.30pm and 11.45pm on Dec 28, 2014.

At the Selayang Sessions Court here, scrap metal collector A. Kalaimughilan, 28, was charged with two counts of possessing items related to LTTE  at a house and in a car at Jalan Anggerik 5D, Bukit Sentosa, Rawang at 9.30am and 12.35pm respectively, last Oct 10.

The items included compact discs, video compact discs and stickers on the LTTE terrorist group.

In Segamat, Johor, despatch rider S.Teran, 38, was charged with a similar offence, allegedly committed at an address, 10M, Jalan Genuang, Kampung Paya Pulai, about 6.30pm last Oct 10.

In Selangor, an English and Physics teacher at a national secondary school in Telok Panglima Garang, Selangor, Sundram Renggan @ Rengasamy, 52, was charged at the Sepang Sessions Court, with a similar offence, allegedly committed at No. 21, Jalan 6, Taman Telok, Telok Panglima Garang in the Kuala Langat district at 2.30pm, also on Oct 12.

At the Butterworth Sessions Court in Penang, security guard M. PuMugan, 29, and and a storekeeper, S. Thanagaraj, 26, were charged with two counts each for possession of items linked to the LTTE terrorist group.

Pumugan, 29, was charged with possessing the items in a handphone at a parking area in front of N.S.E Lorry Transport Sdn Bhd office, Lorong Industri Ringan, Permatang Tinggi, in Seberang Perai Tengah , and at a house in Juru, Bukit Mertajam,  at 3.16pm and 4.15pm respectively, on Oct 12.

As for Thanagaraj, he was charged with committing the offences at Sky Thommas Food Industries Sdn Bhd, Jalan Perindustrian Bukit Minyak 2, Kawasan Perindustrian Bukit Minyak, and at No 7, Lorong Sejahtera 3, Taman Sejahtera, Seberang Perai Tengah at 10 am and 11 am respectively, also on Oct 12.

No plea was recorded from all the accused, as they were all detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures)  Act 2012 (SOSMA) which comes under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

As SOSMA detainees, they were also not allowed bail and will be detained at the Sungai Buloh Prison.

The Sessions Courts set either Nov 18 or Dec 16, for mention of the respective cases. — Bernama