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THREE men accused of a violent group assault at a bak kut teh restaurant in Kepong have been denied bail by the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court, underscoring the judiciary’s cautious approach in a case that has sparked widespread public concern following the circulation of graphic video footage online.
Carpenter Wong Weng Luen, 49, technician Lai Kae Bin, 33, and memorial centre worker Wan Ken Fei, 30, were brought before the Sessions Court on Thursday, where they acknowledged the charges read to them through a Mandarin interpreter and entered pleas of not guilty.
The proceedings were conducted before Judge Norlida Abu Hassan, with the three defendants appearing restrained in court as they faced allegations of a coordinated assault on a 48-year-old man during an incident at a restaurant in Kepong in the early hours of 7 May.
They are charged under Section 326 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing grievous hurt with dangerous weapons or means, read together with Section 34 on common intention. If convicted, they face a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, along with fines and caning.
A further charge under Section 148 of the Penal Code, relating to rioting while armed with a deadly weapon, carries a penalty of up to five years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both.
The incident is alleged to have taken place at a restaurant identified as Heng Kee Bak Kut The in Kepong, where the victim was eating when a confrontation reportedly escalated after he was said to have glanced in the direction of the group.
China Press reported today that Police previously stated that all three suspects were arrested shortly after the incident and were believed to have been intoxicated at the time, with the confrontation allegedly triggered by what was described as a brief exchange of looks.
Video footage widely shared on social media shows one man in a blue shirt standing up and confronting the victim, before two others in white and red allegedly joined the attack moments later.
The recording appears to show the victim being pushed to the ground and dragged from outside the restaurant into the interior, where the assault continued for approximately three minutes.
The footage further depicts repeated punching and kicking, with the victim restrained and struck while furniture and objects, including chairs and cups, were allegedly used during the attack.
The victim is seen collapsing several times and appearing to plead for the assault to stop before eventually staggering out of the premises with visible injuries and blood on his face.
During court proceedings, defence counsel applied for bail on the grounds that the accused had surrendered voluntarily and cooperated with investigators, also citing concerns over prison overcrowding.
The prosecution opposed the application, arguing the seriousness of the alleged offence, the risk of flight, and the possibility of reoffending.
After considering submissions from both sides, the court rejected the bail application for all three accused. The matter has been scheduled for mention on 15 June. - May 14, 2026