Two vigil participants claim trial to charge under Police Act
Two women – Selangor DAP women’s wing secretary Nalina Nair and Sujatra Jayaraj – have claimed trial to a charge under Section 90 of the Police Act 1967 in connection with their arrests during the candlelight vigil in Dataran Merdeka last Thursday.
The duo separately appeared before magistrates Tawfiq Affandy Chin and Wong Chai Sia in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon, according to their lead counsel Rajsurian Pillai.
"The next date for both cases has been set for Oct 1," Rajsurian told...
Two women – Selangor DAP women’s wing secretary Nalina Nair and Sujatra Jayaraj – have claimed trial to a charge under Section 90 of the Police Act 1967 in connection with their arrests during the candlelight vigil in Dataran Merdeka last Thursday.
The duo separately appeared before magistrates Tawfiq Affandy Chin and Wong Chai Sia in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon, according to their lead counsel Rajsurian Pillai.
"The next date for both cases has been set for Oct 1," Rajsurian told Malaysiakini when contacted.
He said Tawfiq had set RM5,000 bail for Nalina, while Wong set RM2,000 bail for Sujatra.
Nalina was also represented by lawyers Azira Aziz and Farida Mohd, while Yoges M Verasuntharam, Adly Zulfadhly and P Purshotaman appeared for Sujatra.
Section 90 of the Police Act states that "any person who, in a police station, behaves in a riotous, indecent, disorderly or insulting manner shall be guilty of an offence under this Act".
According to the charge sighted by Malaysiakini, Nalina and Sujatra were accused of committing the offence at around 9pm on Aug 19, at the lobby of the Dang Wangi district police station.
They face a fine not exceeding RM500 or imprisonment not exceeding six months or both.
Nalina and Sujatra were among 31 candlelight vigil participants brought in two Black Marias to the Dang Wangi police station last Thursday for "documentation purposes" but later arrested and slapped with RM2,000 compound each – totalling RM62,000 – for violating regulations preventing demonstrations during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The vigil organised by youth group Sekretariat Solidariti Rakyat was held in memory of all who have died from Covid-19 so far.
Report this comment
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
This action cannot be undone.