Bouncer denies attack on prince

Bouncer denies attack on prince

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): A nightclub bouncer pleaded not guilty on Friday to injuring a prince from the royal family of Malaysia's Selangor state during an incident outside a Kuala Lumpur discotheque.

P. Manivanan, 24, is charged with using a piece of wood to injure Tengku (prince) Shakirinal Amir Mahmood Ismail, 20, on Dec. 16.

Manivanan faces a maximum prison term of three years or a fine or whipping if convicted. He was bailed pending trial next year. Press reports at the time said the prince needed several stitches to the head after being hit by a baseball bat.

The Star said at the time the attack followed a quarrel between the bouncers and the prince and his group when the doormen refused to admit the prince's younger brother because he was under-age.

Nine of Malaysia's states have royal families. The sultans from each state meet every five years to choose one of their number to be Malaysia's king under the country's unique system of rotating monarchy.