KUALA LUMPUR: Padang Serai Member of Parliament N. Surendran was charged with sedition yesterday over a press release criticising the Court of Appeal judgment in opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's second sodomy conviction.
Surendran, who is Parti Keadilan Rakyat(PKR) vice-president, and also a lawyer representing Anwar in the appeal against his client's conviction and five-year jail sentence, pleaded not guilty before Sessions Court judge Zanol Rashid Hussain at the packed courtroom.
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 alleged to have committed 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 on Monday.
He was apprehended after he surrendered at the Wangsa Maju police headquarters on Monday evening. He was released on police bail a short while later.
He may be fined up to RM5,000, jailed a maximum of three years, or both, if found guilty.
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 was of public interest, pleaded for his client be granted RM3,000 bail due to his dual commitment as Parliamentary representative and a member of the Malaysian Bar.
Syed Faisal opposed the proposal for a lower bail due to the nature of the case which involved a 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.
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 cross-appealed for a longer jail term.