Court fixes Jan 20 next year for trial of UM grad linked to convocation protest

The trial of Universiti Malaya (UM) graduate Wong Yan Ke over a case linked to a protest against the university's vice-chancellor, Abdul Rahim Hashim during a convocation will take place next year.

Rajsurian Pillai, the accused's counsel, told Malaysiakini this afternoon that the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate’s Court fixed the trial dates on Jan 20 and 21 next year.

Wong was alleged to have committed the offence during the UM convocation at Dewan Tunku Canselor, UM, Kuala Lumpur, around 10am, last year.

The hearing dates were fixed by the Magistrate’s Court during one of several mentions that transpired after Wong was first charged on Feb 26 this year.

The latest mention of the case before Magistrate Fardiana Haryanti Ahmad Razali was on July 6 as listed at the online cause list at ecourtservices.kehakiman.gov.my.

Rajsurian also said that his client’s case had been fixed for further mention before the Magistrate’s Court on Sept 7 this year.

On Feb 26 this year at the Magistrate’s Court, former student activist Wong, 24, claimed trial to committing the offence under Section 504 of the Penal Code.

Magistrate Fardiana had granted Wong RM3,000 bail with one surety, which was posted on the same day.

Earlier on Feb 25, Malaysiakini reported that Wong would be charged over the protest.

When receiving his graduation scroll on stage in October last year, Wong, then an engineering student, yelled: “Tolak rasis. Undur VC. Ini Tanah Malaysia (reject racism, VC step down, this is Malaysian land).”

He was also holding a placard which listed several reasons why Abdul Rahim should resign.

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