Friday March 15, 2013
Tian Chua charged with sedition
By MAIZATUL NAZLINA
nazlina@thestar.com.my
Crying foul: Tian Chua leaving the Kuala Lumpur High Court after claiming trial to a sedition charge. KUALA LUMPUR: PKR vice-president Chua Tian Chang has been charged with sedition in a Sessions Court here for making statements linking the Government to the Lahad Datu shootings.
Chua or better known as Tian Chua claimed trial to the charge before Sessions Court judge Mohamad Sekeri Mamat.
Tian Chua, 50, arrived at about 10.40am to a packed courtroom yesterday.
He was charged with making the statements claiming the shootings in Lahad Datu was a planned conspiracy by Umno to divert attention and frighten the people.
He also said it was a “drama” by the Government to scare the people and divert their attention in Sabah, particularly away from the RCI into the state’s immigrants issue.
Tian Chua, who is also Batu MP, was alleged to have committed the offence at Fraser Business Park here on March 1 at about 11am.
The charge under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948 (Act 15) and punishable under Section 4(1) of the same act carries a fine of RM5,000 or three years’ jail or both for first-offenders and five years’ imprisonment for the subsequent offence.
Tian Chua said from the dock: “This is a political allegation. I will answer this defamation to clear my name”.
DPP Yusaini Amir Abd Karim urged the court to impose bail at RM5,000.
Counsel N. Surendran said his client should be released on a personal bond without bail or surety.
Surendran said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had issued a statement on July 11 last year that the Sedition Act would be repealed.
He added that he would file an application to the High Court to cancel the charge on grounds that it was an abuse of power and politically motivated.
Judge Mohamad Sekeri said the Sedition Act was still valid before granting bail at RM5,000 with one surety and fixed April 12 for mention.
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