Fourteen ethnic Indian supporters of a banned Hindu rights outfit were fined Rs 10,000 each on Thursday after they pleaded guilty to participating in an illegal rally organised by the group against the alleged marginalisation of the community in Malaysia.
The 14 had pleaded guilty at a sessions court on Tuesday of joining the rally organised by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) in Batu Caves on November 25, 2007.
Judge Hasbi Hasan said on Thursday that if they failed to pay the fine of Rs 10,000 each, they would be imprisoned for a month. All of them paid the fine.
Their lawyer G K Ganesan earlier pleaded for a lesser fine since his clients were labourers and contract workers, and that this was their first offence.
The court had also announced on Tuesday that another 51 Malaysian-Indians, including a lawmaker, will stand trial in May for allegedly taking part in the illegal rally of Hindraf.
They were also accused of damaging public property during the unprecedented protest.
The 51 who claimed trial, including MP N Gobalakrishnan, will be tried for five days beginning May 11.
