8 change pleas to not guilty on charges of extortion, threatening to kill man

All eight had initially pleaded guilty to the charges in the Johor Bahru magistrates' court on April 25. (File pic)
PETALING JAYA : Eight people, including a woman known as 'Bella', changed their pleas from guilty to not guilty at the Johor Bahru magistrates' court today on charges of extorting, confining and threatening to kill a man in Plentong last April.
Bella, whose real name is Nuredrianna Balqqisyh Anabella Norazman, 22, and the other seven recorded the change in plea on three charges before magistrate A Shaarmini today, Bernama reported.
The other seven are Aqmal Hafifi Mustafa Kamal, 25, Ahmad Rushdi Jumadi, 23, Nur Shafiq Abdullah, 25, Haikal Zulkarnain, 19, Amierul Hakim Shamsuri, 23, Danish Hakim Kamaruddin, 20, and Syamsul Hamiziey Saiful Razali, 19.
On the first charge, they were jointly accused of criminal intimidation by issuing death threats to Faris Syahmi Ridzwan, 22.
On the second charge, the eight, along with two others still at large, were accused of extortion by threatening Faris to pay them RM3,000 or face further assault by the group.
This allegedly led to the victim handing over RM650 in cash and the key to his motorcycle to one of the accused, Amierul.
On the third charge, all the accused, along with two others still at large, were jointly accused of wrongfully confining the victim.
All eight had pleaded guilty before magistrate Atifah Hazimah Wahab to the three charges on April 25.
In separate proceedings before magistrate Nur Fatin Farid today, the seven men also changed their pleas to not guilty on a fourth charge of voluntarily causing hurt to the same victim, along with one other accomplice still at large.
The seven men had pleaded guilty to the fourth charge before Atifah on April 25.
All the alleged offences were said to have been committed at a flat in Plentong, Masai, between 10pm and 4am, from April 18 to 19.
The first three charges were framed under Sections 506, 384 and 342 of the Penal Code respectively, while the fourth charge under Section 323 of the same Code. The offences carry penalties of imprisonment of up to 10 years, or a fine, or both, upon conviction.
Syamsul was represented by counsel Nurul Nadia Yunos, Amierul by T Haressh, Aqmal by Khairulazwad Sariman and Rushdi by Syahmi Nawawi.
The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutors Nik Noratini Nik Azman and Nur Fatihah Nizam.
Both Shaarmini and Fatin fixed July 17 for the next mention of the case, submission of documents, and for the accused who are yet to be represented to appoint counsel.

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