SUNGAI PETANI: A 43-year-old soldier and an egg trader were charged in the Sessions Court here today with committing an armed robbery at a fishing gear shop on Jalan Lencongan Barat recently.

Warrant Officer II Mohamad Rasidi Mohd Yunus, from Temerloh, Pahang, and Abu Bakar Safar, 38, from Kampung Bukit Kecil Simpor, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read before Sessions Court Judge Azman Abu Hassan.

According to the charge sheet, both accused committed gang robbery armed with a pistol at the shop by carting away 15 units of fishing reels from various brands, 10 units of fishing rods and RM5,000 cash.

They were jointly charged with committing the offence at Perniagaan Cabaran Belantara shop in Jalan Lencongan Barat at about 11am on Nov 10.

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The charge was framed under Section 395 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 397 of the same code.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Wan Muhammad Fitri Wan Azizan prosecuted while both accused were not represented.

The prosecution proposed the court set bail at RM30,000 for each accused but both pleaded for a lower amount.

Rasidi informed the court that he is still serving with the Army, and he only earns RM1,000 per month after deducting all his commitments.

Abu Bakar, meanwhile, told the court that he has a wife and five children to support from his income selling eggs.

Azman later fixed the bail at RM20,000 each with one surety and set Dec 23 for mention.

Earlier in the same court, Abu Bakar claimed trial to a drug possession charge. According to the charge sheet, Abu Bakar had in his possession 70.31 grams of cannabis about 2.30pm on Nov 11 in a hut behind a house in Kampung Telok Wang Besar.

The charge was framed under Section 39A(2) of the Dangerous Drug Act 1952, which carries a minimum of five years' jail and up to a lifetime imprisonment and is also liable to no less than 10 strokes of whipping.

The court did not offer any bail to the accused as it was a non-bailable offence.

It was reported earlier that police had detained four suspects, including both accused, hours after being alerted about the firearm robbery.

Following their arrest in Kampung Teluk Wang Besar, police recovered the loot amounting to RM26,000 from the suspects.

In a follow-up operation, police seized a revolver-type firearm and three explosive devices after raiding a car workshop in the same area a day later.