SIBU: The trial of gang leader Lee Long (referred to as Wong Leh Yin in court) and seven of his cohorts, who are facing eight criminal charges under the Penal Code, resumed yesterday.

The charges range from causing grievous hurt under sections 324 and 325 to wrongful confinement under Section 365 and to gang robbery under Section 395.

Indicted together with Lee Long are Wee Teck Hong @ Ah Lek, 40, Yong Ching Lung @ Chi Lung, 22, Yong Kie Teck @ Noney, 37, Hii Chie Peng @ Tua Tao, 35, Lau Ang Ho @ Ang Ho, 30, Matthew Soong Chan Chen @ Matthew, 32, and Wong Kong Yew @ Monkey, 30.

The main prosecution witness, 31-year-old Kueh Chiow Huat (alias Ah Huat), said his cooking-gas business was not doing badly and he was able to earn a living from it.

He said he was the sole proprietor of the business and had hired his brother, Ah Lee, to work for him. He also employed part-time workers.

Questioned by DPP Robert Pasang Alam, he said he was first introduced by a distant relative, Matthew (one of the accused), to Ah Lek (another of the accused) sometime in June or July 2005.

He said Matthew and Ah Lek then introduced Lee Long to him at a coffee shop in Rejang Park.

He and Lee Long discussed gas cylinder business, he said, but he did not agree on any deal with the gang leader.

Matthew and Ah Lek, however, kept asking him to cooperate with Lee Long.

Ah Lek, he recalled, told him that if he did not cooperate, then his lorry and tyres would be smashed and his business disrupted.

Ah Huat said he felt scared upon hearing this.

Earlier on, he said that on Feb 26, 2007, he was discharged from Sibu Hospital after two days of treatment.

This was made upon his request, he said, adding he sought further medical treatment at Sibu Specialist Medical Centre.

DPP: Did Dr Henry Toh tell you the condition of your kidney?

Ah Huat: Yes, he said my kidney was bleeding.

DPP: Did he make any recommendation?

Ah Huat: He asked me to see him three days later.

DPP: Do you know why you need to see a surgical consultant, Dr Yiu Siu Ming.

Ah Huat: Dr Toh told me that if I was still in pain after taking my medication, I needed to see Dr Yiu.

DPP: Did you see Dr Yiu?

Ah Huat: Yes, on March 5, 2007.

DPP: Tell the court why you saw Dr Yiu?

Ah Huat: My back was still painful.

DPP: Did you tell Dr Toh the cause of your pain?

Ah Huat: Yes, I told him I was assaulted by people from Feb 6 to 11, 2007.

Then he said that on April 5, 2007, he sought further medical treatment from a Dr Anderson as his back was very painful.

Prior to that, on March 10, 2007, he also consulted another doctor, Dr Peter Lau, as his kidneys and body were in great pain. He was told to rest for three months.

Till now he is not able to do heavy work, he said. If he did so, he would pass out blood-stained urine.

Asked whether he could do heavy work prior to the torture, Ah Huat said he could and that his urine did not contain blood.

All the accused are represented by Orlando Chua and Jacob Wong.

Hearing before Judge Dean Wayne Daly will continue today starting at 10am.