Amanah Youth vice-chief Shazni Munir Mohd Ithnin has claimed trial to allegations of causing a public nuisance.

He was charged in the Magistrate’s Court in Putrajaya today under Section 268 of the Penal Code with involvement in a protest outside the Election Commission’s (EC) headquarters on May 23, where he allegedly chained and padlocked the entry gate.

He may be fined up to RM400 upon conviction under Section 290 of the Penal Code.

Magistrate Nik Isfahanie Tasnim W Ab Rahman set bail at RM800, on one surety, and fixed July 31 for the submission of documents.

At the protest in May, some 50 people from Pakatan Harapan’s youth and women’s wings had gathered outside the EC’s headquarters in Putrajaya in a bid to submit a memorandum to the commission’s chairperson Mohd Hashim Abdullah.

The memorandum calls on the EC to revoke its decision to stop providing copies of draft supplementary electoral rolls, which various parties and activists claimed is necessary to ensure adequate scrutiny of the draft before it is gazetted.

The group then locked the EC headquarters when the commission purportedly refused to accept the memorandum.

Shazni was first arrested on June 9 and released on police bail on June 12.

He was at the time investigated under Section 341 of the Penal Code, which deals with the punishment of the more serious crime of wrongful restraint.

Meanwhile, during proceedings, the deputy public prosecutor Izzat Fauzan had urged for bail to be set at RM5,000 with one surety.

However, Munir’s counsel Syahredzan Johan argued that this is an appropriate case to allow the accused to be released on personal bond.

Among others, he argued that this was a relatively minor offence, and the accused is a political activist and therefore has no flight risk. He has also complied with the conditions of his police bail, he said.

Syahredzan also argued that the proposal for RM5,000 bail was excessive and disproportionate to the alleged crime.

“As you may know, the objective of imposing bail is not to punish but to ensure attendance. If it is set too high, it can become punitive,” he said.

Syahredzan added that Munir only earns about RM2,000 per month as an uztaz providing lesson on the Quran. His wife also works, but the couple has two children to support.

He said if the court decides it is necessary to impose a bail, then the amount should be between RM500 to RM800.