Perak PKR secretary Mohd Anuar Zakaria was today charged at the Ipoh Sessions Court under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, for not giving notice to hold an assembly three years ago.

He claimed trial to not informing the Ipoh police OCPD over the Kita Lawan gathering at the PKR office in Jalan Medan Istana at about 7.30pm, on May 12, 2013.

Mohd Anuar is considered recharged, after being granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal in May 2014.

This followed the appellate court's decision in April 2014, in the Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad case, that the punishment imposed for not giving 10 days notice, as required in the PAA 2012, was unconstitutional and that the maximum fine of RM10,000 was null and void.

However the Court of Appeal in October last year, in Johor PKR secretary R Yuneswaran's case, ruled the requirement for the 10-day notice was constitutional, valid, and enforceable.

Based on this ruling, Mohd Anuar was charged again.

Mohd Anuar, 49, was represented by lawyers Madhi Hassan and Khairul Anuar Musa. DPP Yusaini Amer Abdul Karim represented the prosecution.

Sessions judge Ikmal Hishan Ahmad Tajuddin fixed bail at RM8,000 with one surety, like Ipoh Timur MP Thomas Su, who was recharged last Friday on similar grounds.

Su, was earlier charged on May 27, 2013, for not giving 10 days notice in the organisation of the Blackout 505 rally in Ipoh at Dewan Wisma Chin Woo on May 9, 2013.

Like Mohd Anuar he was first granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal, following the earlier Court of Appeal ruling.

Bail amount questioned

Anuar's co-counsel and Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran questioned why the court set bail at RM8,000. He pointed out when Su and Anuar were initially charged in 2013, bail was only RM4,000.

"The court must give cogent reasons and provide consistency in giving bail, especially when it concerns the same offence. Why last time it was RM4000 and suddenly now it's RM8000?"

Kulasegaran added he was considering filing an appeal on the bail amount.