March 27, 2024
SHAH ALAM – A platoon of senior and accomplished lawyers have been engaged to defend KK Group founder and executive chairman Datuk Seri Dr Chai Kee Kan and his wife Datin Seri Loh Siew Mui, who were charged at the Sessions Court here yesterday.
The couple, as well as their company KK Supermart & Superstore Sdn Bhd, were slapped with one charge each over the controversial case of socks with the word “Allah” on them being sold at KK Super Mart outlets.
Chai and Loh, who asked for the charge to be read to them in English, pleaded not guilty to the charge under Section 298 of the Penal Code for intentionally wounding the religious sensitivities of Muslims.
The lawyers appearing for them are Datuk Rajpal Singh, Datuk RS Sodhi, Datuk Theng Book, Datuk David Gurupatham and James Ee.
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Also charged at the same court was Xin Jian Chang Sdn Bhd – the Batu Pahat-based company that supplied the socks to KK Super Mart – as well as its directors Soh Chin Huat, Goh Li Huay and Soh Hui San.
The trio and their company were charged under Section 109 of the Penal Code, which was read together with Section 298 of the same Code, for allegedly abetting the said offence by supplying KK Super Mart with the socks.
The charges were read in Malay to Soh, 61 and his daughter Hui San, 36, and in Mandarin to Goh, 62. All three also claimed trial and were represented by lawyer Lau Yi Leong.
Rajpal, who is lead defence counsel for Chai and Loh, pleaded for bail to be set at RM5,000 as punishment for the charge was merely a maximum jail term of one year and a fine or both.
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He said Chai was not a flight risk as he helms 810 outlets, including in Nepal, India and Brunei and has 5,000 people working for his company.
He is also a philanthropist and heads several non-governmental organisations and hence there was no reason for him to abscond, added Rajpal.
Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Masri Daud, who was the lead prosecutor, proposed bail of RM15,000.
Sessions judge Muhamad Anas Mahadzir set bail at RM10,000 with one surety and no additional conditions.
As for Loh, Rajpal said although she was a director of the company, she was a homemaker with two children aged 21 and 17.
“She will attend court proceedings when needed. She is not a flight risk,” he said.
He asked for a RM5,000 bail for Loh, given the circumstances.
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Muhamad Anas set bail at RM10,000 with one surety and no additional conditions for Loh.
As for Soh, Masri initially proposed bail be set at RM15,000 as the case is one of public interest.
Soh’s counsel said Soh is also not a flight risk and has been cooperating with the authorities throughout investigations.
“It is undeniable that the case has garnered public interest; however, the level of seriousness should not be decided based on the public reaction but rather the law, which includes the punishment,” Lau said.
As for Goh, Lau said although she was one of the company’s directors, she played no role in running or managing the factory.
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“The accused is a homemaker and takes care of her grandchildren. Therefore, there’s no excuse for her to be absent from the trial,” Lau said, who then proposed an RM5,000 bail for Goh.
He added that Hui San, who was a mother of two, was also not a flight risk.
The judge then set bail at RM10,000 each with one surety and no additional conditions for Soh, Goh and Hui San either.
Muhamad Anas fixed April 29 for the case to be mentioned.
Besides Masri, others in the prosecution team were Khairul Azreem Mamat, Ku Hayati Ku Haron, Noor Haslinda Che Seman, and Nadia Mohd Izhar.