BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

A MAN charged with slapping a woman was ordered to be remanded pending investigation after the court denied the defendant’s release on bail yesterday.

During the proceedings yesterday, Prosecuting Officer Siti Nurjauinah Hj Kula filed a charge against defendant Mohammad Herol Matusin, 34, of causing hurt to a woman when he slapped her multiple times on April 27.

Herol was in the headlines earlier this month when police issued a notice seeking public assistance in locating the defendant for questioning. The prosecuting officer told the court that on May 9, the police was able to find and arrest the defendant despite the latter putting up a struggle and resisting arrest.

She went on to say that during the arrest the police found items suspected to be drug utensils. The prosecution applied for the defendant to be further remanded pending further investigation.

In response to the application, Herol told the court that he wished to visit his wife as she is about to give birth. “I am not persuaded that you should be released,” said presiding Senior Magistrate Hj Nabil Daraina PDH Hj Badaruddin. He went on to say that there is a high risk of the defendant interfering with the witness and evidence should a court bail be granted. The court subsequently granted the prosecution’s application for the defendant’s remand pending the next mention of the case on May 14.

The Brunei Times