KUALA LUMPUR: Padang Serai Member of Parliament N. Surendran was
charged with sedition over a press release criticising the Court of
Appeal judgment in opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's second
sodomy conviction.
Parti Keadilan Rakyat(PKR) vice-president Surendran, also a lawyer
representing Anwar in the appeal against his client's conviction and
five-year jail term, calmly pleaded not guilty before Sessions Court
judge Zanol Rashid Hussain at the packed courtroom today.
The sedition charge, framed under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act
1948, was over the alleged publication of "PRESS RELEASE: Court of
Appeal's Fitnah 2 Written Judgment is Flawed, Defensive and
Insupportable."
The 48-year-old was accused of committing the offence at the office of
online news portal Malaysiakini, at No. 48, Jalan Kemuja, Bangsar
Utama, Brickfields here, around 3.40pm on April 18.
Police, acting on a April 21 report lodged by non-governmental
organisation Geram(Gerakan Rakyat Marhaen or Marhaen People's
Movement) president Norafiq Md Noor, 27, issued an arrest warrant
against Surendran yesterday.
Surendran was apprehended after he surrendered to the Wangsa Maju
police headquarters yesterday. He was released on police bail a short
while later.
He may be fined up to RM5,000, jailed for a maximum of three years, or
both, if found guilty under the same section of the Act.
Deputy public prosecutor Syed Faisal Syed Amir urged the court to
impose RM10,000 bail with one surety due to the public interest
surrounding the case.
Surendran's counsel M. Puravalen, who agreed that the case is of
public interest, pleaded for his client be granted RM3,000 bail
instead due to his dual commitment as Parliamentary representative and
member of the Malaysian Bar(lawyer).
Syed Faisal opposed the proposal for a lower bail due to the nature of
the case which involved an MP.
Zanol Rashid granted RM5,000 bail with one surety and fixed Sept 18
for case management. Surendran, who was also represented by PKR legal
bureau chief Latheefa Koya, posted bail after proceedings.
Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar and former Bersih 2.0
co-chairperson Datuk S. Ambiga were among those present during
proceedings today.
Anwar, 67, was convicted by the Court of Appeal of sodomising his
former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, 29, at Unit 11-5-1, Desa
Damansara condominium, No. 99, Jalan Setia-kasih, Bukit Damansara,
between 3.01pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008.
Anwar, who is also Permatang Pauh MP, was initially acquitted by the
High Court on Jan 9, 2012. However, the Court of Appeal reversed the
verdict on March 7, convicting and sentencing him to five years' jail.
The public prosecutor is also cross-appealing for a longer jail term.