The Sessions Court in Putrajaya has set four days beginning Feb 25 for the trial of a woman who allegedly ran amok with a man armed with a samurai sword in front of the Prime Minister’s Office in July last year.   

Judge Mohamed Kamil Nizam set the new trial dates after deputy public prosecutor Nadia Izhar informed him that Muhdalena Ahmad’s lawyer M Visvanathan was still unwell.  

She told the court that Visvanathan, who did not attend court today, had requested for the trial to be postponed.

Mohamed Kamil then fixed Feb 25 to 28 for the trial.

The judge also requested Muhdalena to inform her lawyer to write in using Form 28A, a form required to be submitted to the court with regard to his client’s application to plea-bargain on the criminal charges against her.  

Muhdalena, 28, from Kota Damansara, is facing four charges under the Penal Code, the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958 and the Restricted Area and Prohibited Places Act 1959.  

She is accused of criminal intimidation with intent to cause grievous hurt to an auxiliary police personnel, Lance Corporal Ridzuan Megat Ahmad, in the vicinity of Complex B of the Prime Minister’s Department at 2.30pm on July 9, 2012.   

The charge, under Section 506 of the Penal Code, carries a jail term of up to seven years or a fine, or both, upon conviction.  

Muhdalena has also been charged with possession of a weapon (sword) at the same place and time under Section 7(1) of the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958, which carries a jail term of up to two years and a maximum fine of RM2,000, or both, upon conviction.  

For the charges under the Restricted Area and Prohibited Places Act, Muhdalena is alleged to have disobeyed Ridzuan's orders to put down the sword and for failing to abide by a minister’s order to obtain a pass or permit before entering the premises.   

Muhdalena is free on RM11,500 bail in one surety pending the trial.

- Bernama