IPOH: A company director who landed a helicopter at Padang Ipoh to collect packs of the popular nasi ganja pleaded not guilty at a Magistrate’s Court to failing to adhere to a flight path.

       Datuk Mohamed Raffe K. Chekku, 53, claimed trial to the charge before magistrate Jesseca Daimis yesterday.

       According to the charge sheet, Mohamed Raffe landed the aircraft on the field between 9.50am and 10am on July 23 last year.

       He was charged under Rule 77(2) of the Commercial Flight Regulations 2016 for failing to adhere to the rules stipulated under the civil aviation directive for landing a Bell 505 helicopter apart from an aerodrome as stated in the flight plan.

       He faces a RM50,000 fine or up to three years’ jail, or both, upon conviction.

       The accused was represented by a team of lawyers led by Datuk Baljit Singh Sidhu.

       The lead counsel requested bail to be fixed at RM5,000, saying that his client, who is married with four children, had been cooperative throughout the police investigation.

       Landing in court: Mohamed Raffe arriving at the Ipoh Magistrate’s Court. — Ronnie Chin/The Star

       Deputy public prosecutor Jean Sharmila Jesudason requested the court to impose bail between RM5,000 and RM10,000.

       Jesseca fixed bail at RM5,000 with one surety and set June 29 as the mention date.

       The accused posted bail.

       It has been reported that a customer from Kuala Lumpur flew a helicopter to Ipoh to satisfy his craving for nasi ganja – the moniker for the famous nasi kandar sold by a stall here.

       The reports said the helicopter had landed at Padang Ipoh on July 23, 2021, to pick up 36 packs of nasi ganja ordered by the customer.

       The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia then launched an investigation into the incident.

       Initial investigation found that the helicopter had departed at 9.08am from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang for Ipoh before returning to Subang at 11.02am on the same day.