JOHOR BAHRU — A company director and a factory worker claimed trial in the Magistrate’s and Sessions Courts here today to charges including the theft of a lorry, dangerous driving, obstructing a police officer and drug possession.

Chai Min Quan, 39, and Low Boon Lai, 37, pleaded not guilty after the lorry theft charge was read to them in Malay by a court interpreter before Magistrate A. Shaarmini.

According to the charge, the two men allegedly stole a CD45-model lorry belonging to Max Theu Zhi Wei from a parking area in front of the BHP Plentong petrol station along Jalan Mutiara 4, Taman Plentong, Masai, near here, at 7.40am on September 30.

They were charged under Section 379A of the Penal Code for motor vehicle theft, which carries a prison term of between one and seven years and a fine upon conviction.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Eizlan Azhar prosecuted, while Chai was represented by lawyer Yap Che Kai. Low was unrepresented.

The court set October 23 for the submission of documents and for Low to appoint a lawyer.

Both men were granted bail of RM7,000 each, with additional conditions requiring them to report to a nearby police station, surrender their international passports and refrain from interfering with the victim or witnesses.

Separately, Low pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Atifah Hazimah Wahab to two further charges, which were read to him in Mandarin.

On the first charge, he is accused of intentionally obstructing Corporal Muhammad Nazmi Ihsan Abdullah from carrying out his duties within the jurisdiction of the Pasir Putih police station at 8.25am on September 30.

He was charged under Section 186 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum prison term of two years, a fine of up to RM10,000, or both, upon conviction.