PKR Youth sec charged with possessing, displaying ‘Bersih’ T-shirt
Posted on July 8, 2011, Friday
MIRI: The Youth secretary of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Zulhaidah Suboh was yesterday charged in the magistrates’ court with two offences under Society Act 1966.
The case attracted supporters from the opposition parties who came together with Zulhaidah family members.
Also present were Pujut assemblyman Fung Pau Teck and PKR Miri chief Michael Teo.
Wearing an orange T-shirt with ‘Justice First — Truth Now and 1Mongolia’ printed on the back and black jeans, Zulhaidah waved and smiled to her father Hadie @ Suboh Salleh, mother and husband who were among the crowd as police escorted her to the dock.
The 38-year-old aspiring politician was charged with possessing two pieces of T-shirt printed with ‘Bersih 2.0’ wordings and displaying by wearing T-shirt with ‘Bersih 2.0’ printed on it.
Both offences under Section 47 of Society Act 1966 (Act 335) prescribed jail sentence of not more than two years or fine of not more than RM5,000 or both upon conviction.
Before magistrate Nasrul Hadi Abdul Ghani, she pleaded not guilty to both charges.
As she claimed trial, deputy public prosecutor Yaacub Haji Chik requested for the accused to be released on bail of RM5,000 with one surety for each charge.
Yaacub in his application contended that the amount must not be low as there was possibility that the accused may abscond and that she might take it lightly and attend court hearing at later stage.
Apart from that, the accused might commit the same offence in the future.
The large amount of bail will secure her attendance at the trial.
The accused’s counsel Piasau assemblyman Ling Sie Kiong said the bail amount of RM5,000 requested by Yaacub was too excessive as Section 47 of Society Act 1966 (Act 335) prescribed a fine of not more than RM5,000 upon conviction.
Ling said that the bail should not be a punishment for the accused.
On the ground that Zulhaidah might abscond, Ling said the chances were slim as she is a well-known figure in Miri for she had contested in the recent state election.
In a lighter note, Ling said his client is now becoming more famous and well known with the case.
She also has no criminal records prior to the case.
Two other counsels namely Majen Panyog and Abun Sui Anyit also represented Zulhaidah.
In requesting for the amount of bail to be reduced, Abun said the accused is just a housewife without income.
Magistrate Nasrul after hearing both parties ordered Zulhaidah to be released on bail of RM4,000 for each charge with one surety pending trial fixed for Aug 15 and 16, this year.
Zulhaidah’s father Hadie stand as her surety.
No comments:
Post a Comment