No fewer than 30 Nigerians are on trial in Malaysia for offences ranging from illegally staying in the country to attacks on policemen during a raid.
20 Nigerian students between the ages of 22-37 were charged to court for attacking four Malaysia policemen during a raid at their Flora Damansara condominium in July.
The students face multiple charges, including rioting in connection with an attack on a police raiding team.
The Nigerian students were identified as Onorwu Chimuanyi Vincent, Augustine Ekene Okora, Onyeikpe Uzoma Onyekachi, Ndubuisi Osuagwu, Uchenna Stanley Ayozie, Chibuzo Kingsley Orji, Onyiyedi George Oboduagy, Eberredu Daniel Chima, Okeke Charses, Obilor Macdennis Chinemerem, Osuji Chimobi, Chinedu Aligwe, Kabuye Christian, Nwokenna Tochukwu Nwabueze, Chibuzo Goodluck, Okeke Chinedu Darling Ton, Charlse Uche Anyanwy, Ususledrock Onyedikachi, Mathew Kelechi Cletus and Anoka.
10 of the Nigerians pleaded not guilty at the Magistrate’s Court to charges of assaulting police officers and rioting during a raid at an apartment here last month.
The men aged between 22 and 37 were accused of disturbing public peace by rioting on July 25, as well as causing hurt and using criminal force to intimidate four policemen at Flora Damansara.
They face charges under Section 147 of Penal Code for rioting, and also Sections 332 and 353 for assaulting and intimidating, respectively, offences which carry jail sentences of between two and three years as well as fines.
Meanwhile, six other Nigerians have been charged under Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act for overstaying their visa.
Another 14 Nigerians pleaded guilty to a charge of staying illegally, facing a maximum RM10,000 fine and a jail sentence of up to five years.
Magistrate Mohamad Ikhwan Mohd Nasir denied them bail, and set Sept 5 for case mention.
“It is your duty as a counsel to prove their innocence,” he said, in rejecting lawyer M Tharuma Ratnam’s application to seek bail.
On July 25, three policemen and an officer of the Commercial Crime Investigation Department at Petaling Jaya district headquarters were attacked while trying to arrest a Nigerian man suspected of being involved in African scams.
The incident caught the attention of Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who said the government would not compromise with anyone who violates the law or obstructs the police in performing their duties.
