They are Zhao Jianzhong, 51; Cao Yong Jun, 45; Wu Yinhua, 26; Zhu Suhong, 48 (woman); Zhang Jinping, 48 and Guo Jianhui, 51.

The Chinese nationals, all workers at a construction site, made the plea after the charge was read out to them in Mandarin before magistrate Siti Radziah Kamarudin.

They were jointly charged with rioting against four policemen from the Tun HS. Lee police station and causing injuries to the policemen concerned on Jalan Abraham, off Jalan Imbi, here, at 11.36pm on Nov 11.

The charge, under Section 147 of the Penal Code, provides an imprisonment for up to five years, or fine, or both, if found guilty.

Siti Radziah allowed them bail of RM8,000 with two local sureties and also ordered them to surrender their passports to the court, as well as to report themselves at the nearest police station twice a month.

Deputy public prosecutor K. Vasugi prosecuted, while all the six accused were represented by lawyer Dexter Chua.

The court set Dec 19 for mention.