Silat instructor claims trial to sedition over FB post on Agong

KUALA LUMPUR: A silat instructor claimed trial in the sessions court here today to a sedition charge involving remarks posted on social media concerning the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Raden Azrul Amirulla, 36, pleaded not guilty to the charge before judge Tasnim Abu Bakar.

Raden, who lives in Sabah, was alleged to have uploaded the remarks on Facebook, which were subsequently detected at the commercial crime investigation department office at Menara KPJ at about 2.30pm on Dec 23 last year.

The charge was framed under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948, punishable under Section 4(1) of the same Act.

If convicted, he faces a fine of up to RM5,000, imprisonment of up to three years, or both.

Deputy public prosecutor Nur Shakila Shariff proposed bail of RM8,000 with one surety and for Raden to surrender his passport pending disposal of the case.

However, defence counsel Farhanna Roslan asked for a lower bail amount of less than RM5,000, saying her client earns between RM4,000 and RM6,000 a month and supports his mother and six children.

She also urged the court not to seize his passport, arguing that he was not a flight risk.

The court allowed bail of RM5,000 with one surety and ordered Raden to surrender his passport.

July 13 was fixed for case mention.