TAWAU: Two gold mine workers employed by a company in Balung were on Friday charged with criminal trespass on land belonging to Southsea Gold Sdn Bhd in May this year.
Chok Kat Leong, 65, and Romuald Peter, 36, pleaded not guilty separately before Magistrate Don Stiwin Malanjum to the charge against them.
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The duo are accused of committing criminal trespass by entering the gold mining area with the intention of disrupting workers carrying out operations on the land owned by Southsea Gold Sdn Bhd under circumstances that could give rise to suspicion.
They allegedly committed the offence at Bukit Mantri, Balung, on May 22, this year at 1.30pm, together with six other individuals who are still at large.
They were charged under Section 447 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same Code, which provides for a jail term of up to six months, or a fine of up to RM3,000, or both, upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Wildan Firdaus Ahmad Fazly, who requested bail of RM5,000 for each accused with two local sureties, appeared for the prosecution.
Counsel Chen Wen Jye, representing both accused, applied for bail to be set at RM1,500 each with two sureties, arguing that her clients had fully cooperated during investigation and both resided in Tawau.
She said the duo were colleagues, with Chok having served as a company supervisor for seven years, while Romuald worked as a senior surveyor for six years.
The court fixed bail at RM2,000 each with two local sureties and set July 7 for further mention of the case.
