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MOB RULE: The 'cow-head' protesters demonstrating outside the Shah Alam courts this morning Pics: Shahir Omar

SHAH ALAM: The "cow-head" protesters turned rowdy outside the Shah Alam courts after their trial date was fixed this morning.

The 12 accused and their supporters created a commotion at the court's entrance as they yelled slogans, and kicked and stepped on a banner depicting caricatures of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, DAP leader Lim Kit Siang and Perak DAP secretary Nga Kor Ming.

Later, at 11.30am, the demonstraters followed one of the accused, Ibrahim Sabri, 43, who lodged a report at the Section 11 Shah Alam police station against the DAP leaders, including vice-president and Ipoh Barat MP N. Kulasegaran, for remarks on Malay sovereignty.

Earlier, the trial date for the "cow-head" demonstrators was fixed to begin on April 12 next year. Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Razali Che Ani told the Shah Alam Sessions Court the prosecution would be led by deputy public prosecutor Ishak Yusoff.

The judge was Hasdi Hasan, while Razali was assisted by Harris Ong Mohd Jeffrey Ong.

The 12 demonstrators in the Aug 28 "cow head" incident in front of the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Building here are Ibrahim, Ahmad Mahayuddin Abdul Manaf, 36; Eyzva Ezhar Ramly, 31; Mohd Azmir Mohd Zain, 35; Ahmad Suhairy Zakaria, 30; and Mohd Hilmi Ni, 40. They were represented by Hashim Ibrahim.

Ibrahim and Ahmad Mahayuddin are jointly charged with stepping on a cow's head, Eyzva Ezhar with bringing in the cow's head, and Mohd Azmir, Ahmad Suhairy and Mohd Hilmi with bringing and stepping on a cow's head in an illegal assembly.

They are charged under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948 and face a maximum of RM5,000 fine, or jail of up to three years, or both. All pleaded not guilty.

They also pleaded not guilty to an alternative charge of wounding the feelings of Hindus at the same place and time, and face up to a year in jail, fine, or both, under Section 298 of the Penal Code if found guilty.

Ahmad Mahayuddin and Ibrahim are the chairman and deputy chairman, respectively, of Section 23 residents' action committee which led a demonstration against the relocation of a temple to the area.

They and six others — Jainuddin @ Zainuddin Md Yusuff, 67; Mohd Jurit Ramli, 39; Mohamad Nordin Zakaria, 46; Jamil Mohamad Isa, 40; Rahimuddin Md Harun, 39; and Azhari Shaari, 39 — are also charged with taking part in an illegal assembly.