Two acquitted in RTD gang robbery case

Gravedigger Shamsuri Abd Karim walks out of the sessions court in Kuala Lumpur today, Dec 21, 2017. — Bernama

Dispatch rider Mohamad Afif Hussin walks out of the sessions court in Kuala Lumpur today, Dec 21, 2017. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: A grave digger and dispatch rider was discharged and acquitted by the sessions court on a charge of committing gang robbery at the Road Transport Department (RTD) premise at Wangsa Maju.

Sessions Judge Zaman Mohd Noor discharged and acquitted Shamsuri Abd Karim and Mohamad Afif Hussin at the end of the prosecution's case.

The judge however ordered a third accused, Muhammad Fadzil Abdullah, 22, to enter his defence on Jan 26.

The three had claimed trial to armed robbery amounting to RM754,840.30, belonging to RTD Malaysia, using a machete at the Account and Revenue Unit, RTD Wangsa Maju about 5.30pm on July 4, 2016.

Earlier, defence counsel Ariff Azami Hussein submitted that there is no strong evidence to link the two accused with the crime.

He said the prosecution had failed to prove the presence and involvement of the two accused in the robbery, at the place of the incident, during the material time.

On July 23, last year, a female clerk from the Accounts and Revenue Unit at the RTD office in Wangsa Maju, Norzaisyima Ahmad Zaidin pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a four year jail term on a charge of committing armed robbery at the same place, time and date.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Amira Sariaty Zainal appeared for the prosecution.