SHAH ALAM, Aug 5 — The High Court has acquitted and discharged a temple chairman after ruling that the criminal trespass charge against him in connection with private land in Dengkil, Sepang, was defective.
Counsel Latheefa Koya, representing M. Paramaguru, 49, told Bernama after the court proceedings that Justice Hazlina Hussain had ruled the charge was defective because it failed to state the criminal intent required to constitute the alleged offence.
She added that the judge also found that proceeding with a full trial would only waste judicial time as the defect in the charge could not be remedied.
Paramaguru filed the application on March 25, arguing that the charge failed to state the essential element of the alleged offence, namely that he had entered the land with the intent to commit an offence or to intimidate, insult or annoy the lawful occupier.
According to the application, although the charge was framed under Section 447 of the Penal Code, it failed to disclose any offence recognised by law.
Paramaguru, who is also a security guard, had claimed trial for entering land belonging to Datuk Suhaili Ahmad, 71, without permission at Jalan Selangor Dredging, Dengkil, at 4.45pm on June 19, 2025.
The charge under Section 447 of the Penal Code carries a maximum penalty of six months' imprisonment, a fine of up to RM3,000, or both, upon conviction.
