(Aug 10): Three men who assaulted a customer at a mobile phone outlet in Low Yat Plaza about a month ago were fined RM1,800 each today after pleading guilty to the charge.

Low Leong Seng, 29, Eric Chan Weng, 23, and Soo Weng Hing, 26, were jointly charged with causing hurt to Shahrul Anuar Abdul Aziz at a shop in the plaza on July 11.

Magistrate Muhamad Faizal Ismail said the trio would have to spend two months in jail should they fail to pay the fine.

All three are now making preparations to settle the fine.

Last month, Shahrul was charged with stealing a RM800 Lenovo S860 smartphone from the shop at which the three were employed.

Shahrul has claimed trial to the offence.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar was reported as saying that two people were arrested at Low Yat Plaza for theft on July 11, but that one was later released by an investigating officer.

Khalid said they had allegedly stolen a phone from a kiosk and, after hearing cries for help, staff from another shop stepped in to apprehend the thieves.

The released accomplice reportedly returned to the plaza with a group of seven men and attacked those who had helped nab him and Shahrul.

The following night, on July 12, a group of some 200 people including Malay non-governmental organisations gathered in front of Low Yat Plaza to protest the arrest after stories were circulated on social media that Shahrul had been sold a cloned handphone.

The gathering turned unruly when fistfights broke out, injuring seven people.

Police then detained 25 people for rioting, sedition and theft to facilitate investigations into the case.

One of them was the blogger known as Papagomo who had allegedly spread lies that led to the fighting.

Police also arrested Malaysia Armed Forces Veterans chief Mohd Ali Baharom, better known as Ali Tinju, for making an incendiary speech to the crowd outside Low Yat Plaza on Sunday night.

He was detained and charged under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act. – The Malaysian Insider