Three men charged with assault over alleged “side-eye” dispute at Kepong restaurant.

KUALA LUMPUR, May 14 — Three men accused of assaulting a man at a restaurant in Kepong after allegedly claiming he gave them a “side-eye” were charged in the Sessions Court today with causing grievous hurt.

The accused — carpenter Wong Weng Luen, 49, technician Lai Kae Bin, 33, and memorial centre worker Wan Ken Fei, 30 — pleaded not guilty before Judge Noridah Adam.

They were jointly charged with intentionally causing grievous hurt to Andrew Teh Tiek Hua, 49, at a restaurant along Jalan Kepong, Metro Prima, at about 2am on May 7.

The charge was framed under Section 326 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years, and may also include a fine or caning upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Nadia Eleena Jamaluddin Akbal objected to bail, citing the seriousness of the offence and the possibility that the accused could abscond or interfere with the victim.

Defence counsel S. Narasimhan, who represented all three men, appealed for bail, noting that his clients had cooperated fully with investigators and voluntarily surrendered to the authorities.

He argued that the case’s widespread attention on social media should not be a reason to deny bail.

Lawyer Chia Hui Ming also appeared as watching brief for the victim.

Judge Noridah denied bail and fixed June 15 for case mention pending submission of relevant documents.

The incident drew public attention after CCTV footage showing three men attacking another diner at a restaurant in Kepong circulated widely online. The assault was allegedly triggered by claims that the victim had been looking at them sideways while they were eating. — Bernama