Trio charged for alleged armed robbery

KUCHING: Three local men were charged in the Sessions Court today for allegedly committing an armed robbery at a café in Matang, an incident that went viral on social media on September 8.

Muhammad Harry Moses Bodus, 36, Erwin Reynolds Majol, 29, and Yazid Syukry Masri, 36, each pleaded not guilty to the charge read before Judge Iris Awen Jon.

According to the charge, the trio allegedly committed an armed group robbery using machetes against two foreign workers at a café in Matang here at around 5.16 am on September 8.

They are accused of robbing RM750 in cash, two smartphones, two passports belonging to the foreign workers, and two identification cards belonging to the victims.

The men are charged under Section 397 of the Penal Code, which carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and liable to whipping, upon conviction.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Ruvinasini Pandian did not offer bail to any of the accused, citing the seriousness of the offence, public interest, and safety concerns.

The court ordered all the accused to be remanded until a re-mention for the case management scheduled for October 10.

The case is being investigated by Inspector Mohammad Fadini Noni.

Earlier, CCTV footage of the armed robbery at the café went viral on social media on September 8.

The video showed several men brandishing machetes at the café staff and customers, attempting to intimidate them.

The footage drew widespread attention from social media users, with various comments being posted in response.