The Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur set Aug 20 for the case management of the case of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president Tian Chua, Sultan Idris University of Education student Adam Adli Abd Halim and four other opposition activists who were charged with making allegedly seditious speeches at the Chinese Assembly Hall in May this year.  

Judge Norsharidah Awang set the date after deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Abazafree Mohd Abbas informed the court that they had handed over a copy of the police report and recording of the speech on May 13 to the defence counsel.  

“The defence informed me that based on these documents they will file several applications either in this of the High Court,” Mohamad Abazafree said during mention today.

On May 23, Adam Adli, 25, pleaded not guilty to a charge of making a speech containing seditious remarks to incite the people to change the government in an illegal manner.   

Later on May 29, Tian Chua, whose actual name is Chua Tian Chang, Malaysian Students Solidarity chairperson Muhammmad Safwan Anang @ Talib, 24, PAS member Mohd Tamrin Abdul Ghafar, 63, and two other opposition activists Haris Fathillah Mohamed Ibrahim, 54, and Hishamuddin Md Rais, 62, pleaded not guilty to the same charge.

All of them were charged under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948 (Act 15) which carries a sentence of up to five years jail or maximum fine of RM5,000 upon conviction.  

They allegedly committed the offence at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall at Jalan Maharajalela, Dang Wangi here between 8.55pm and 11.15pm on May 13 this year.  

The defence team was led by lawyer Gobind Singh Deo.

- Bernama