KUALA LUMPUR, 3 Aug 2009: Sixteen supporters of the Abolish the ISA Movement (GMI) pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to participating in an illegal assembly.
Those charged comprised 11 men and five women, aged between 30 and 60 years. They are Nordin Ahmad, Hayati Abdul Samad, Salmah Ismail, Norlaila Othman, Rashini, Nashita Md Noor, Hasbullah, Wan Muhd Jaslan, Mohd Fitri Mohd Yasin, Syaza Muaz Shahaudin, Mohd Sukri Mohd Sirat, Mohd Sukeri Muhammad, Norazam Salaib, Mohd Sallehuddin Yusof, Mohd Fazlly Mohd Ismail, and Zul Sifli Kamma Kutti.
They are jointly charged with participating in an illegal assembly in the vicinity of the National Mosque between 9am and 1:30pm on 1 Aug.
The offence, under Section 143 of the Penal Code, carries up to two years in jail or a fine, or both, if convicted.
They also pleaded not guilty to an alternative charge of being at the illegal assembly, an offence under the Police Act 1967, at the same place, time and date. The offence carries a maximum fine of RM10,000 and one year in jail upon conviction.
In the same court, 13 people, including a juvenile, pleaded not guilty to assisting the GMI by bringing six red T-shirts with the words “Unit Amal Malaysia” written in white, and three red caps with the logo “Unit Amal” on them.
The T-shirts were for use an assembly calling for the abolition of the Internal Security Act (ISA) on Jalan Kinabalu, near the National Mosque, on the same day.
They are Muhammad Sholihin Md Salleh, Ahmad Abd Wahab Abd Rahman, Abu Ubaidah Jalaluddin, Shahrul Iman M Salleh, Kamarul Nadhir Kadini, Mohd Ikhwan Ikram, Samsul Anuar Nordin, Mohd Fadzil Jan Dam, Saad Musa, Mohd Hafizudin M Ghazali, Mohd Helmi Hassan, Mohd Lokman Ahmad Ulawi and the juvenile.
They are charged under Section 43 of the Societies Act 1966, to be read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to three years or fine up to RM3,000, or both, upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Shahidani Abd Aziz prosecuted, while all the accused were represented by 13 lawyers led by counsel Azzizul Shariman Mat Yusoff.
Judge Muhammad Sekeri Mamat, who fixed 4 Sept for mention of the case, allowed all the accused to be released on RM500 bail in one surety each, while the juvenile was released on a RM300 guarantee without bond. — Bernama
armstrong says
It’s weird though. They catch people whom they think were participating in the illegal rally and charge them RM500 each for bail. How come they don’t arrest the police officers and MACC officers suspected in two different [cases of death in custody]? They should also impose bail if the officers want to be released.
Our govt of Malaysia led by Umno is nothing but an oxymoron.