GEORGE TOWN: A parking attendant was charged at the magistrate's court here today with obstructing a policeman from discharging his duty at the Datuk Keramat police station on Sunday.
The 35-year-old, whose name was listed only as Supramaniam, claimed trial to the charge which was read to him by the court interpreter before magistrate Nadratul Naim Mohd Saidi.
Supramaniam is alleged to have intentionally obstructed a 25-year-old Lance Corporal from discharging his duty as a sentry at the compound of the police station.
He is alleged to have committed the offence at the compound of the police station about 4am last Sunday.
He was charged under Section 186 of the Penal Code.
Deputy public prosecutor M. Darrshini proposed bail at RM10,000 with one surety.
"We also have extra conditions, one of which is that the accused does not disturb the prosecution witnesses and he is to report to the nearest police station twice monthly," she said.
Defence counsel Ranjit Singh Sandhu, however, pleaded for a lower bail amount and objected to his client having to report himself at the police station twice monthly.
He said the case was different from the attack at the Ulu Tiram police station in Johor Baru recently.
"My client was there to collect his girlfriend's brother's motorcycle at the police station after the brother was detained for a drug case. The girlfriend was with him at the time of the whole incident," he said.
Ranjit said his client would lodge a police report over the matter.
Nadratul then set bail at RM5,000 with one surety.
"The accused is also not allowed to disturb any prosecution witnesses until the end of the case," she said.
She fixed June 20 for mention pending submission of documents.
On Sunday, it was reported that a man was arrested shortly after attempting to snatch a submachine gun from a policeman at the Datuk Keramat station here.
In the 4am incident, the policeman on duty was approached by a man, who was believed to have been under the influence of alcohol, who ordered him to open the gate while hurling verbal abuses.
The policeman warned and advised the man to disperse but he refused.
Instead, he got nearer to the policeman and tried to snatch his Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine gun, but failed.
The man then took his helmet and tried to attack the policeman, which led to a scuffle during the arrest process.