SHAH ALAM,  Sept 4 — Eight men, including two alleged secret society members, were charged at the Magistrate’s Court here today with the murder of a man during a brawl involving a group of individuals in Taman Alam Megah last month.

Soulami Ahimsha, 46; S.R. Harikrisnan, 42; M.K. Puwaneswaran, 39; A. Rhubban, 37; K. Thivagar, 29; Shaik Hasanudin Ahlauwudin, 26; Sheikh Mauludin Ahlauwudin, 24; and R. Darvin Raj, 23, nodded after the charge was read out to them before Magistrate Cynthia Noor Haizean Sulaiman.

No plea was recorded from any of the accused as the case falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

According to the charge, they, together with eight others still at large, as members of an unlawful assembly with a common intention, are accused of murdering Ganesan, 23, at Jalan Mandolin, Taman Alam Megah here at 1.59pm on August 25.

They were charged under Section 149 of the Penal Code and are liable to punishment under Section 302 of the same code; a conviction carries the death penalty or imprisonment for a term of 30 to 40 years, and if not sentenced to death, the offender shall also be liable to whipping of not less than 12 strokes.

The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Alya Zaphfirah Al Zaphni, while lawyers Navin Punj and Nur Aida Md Zainuddin represented three of the accused. The remaining accused were unrepresented.

The court denied bail and fixed October 13 for mention. — Bernama