Chegubard charged with sedition over Forest City casino post
Bersatu’s Badrul Hisham Shaharin at the Johor Bahru sessions court after being charged with publishing seditious material on social media. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: Bersatu member Badrul Hisham Shaharin, also known as Chegubard, pleaded not guilty at the Johor Bahru sessions court today after being charged with publishing seditious material on social media.
The charge relates to a Bloomberg report, which the government has denied, about plans for a purported casino project in Forest City, Johor.
Harian Metro reported that Badrul was charged with posting seditious material on his Facebook account at Mutiara Villa, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, at 6.30pm last Friday.
The charge was framed under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948, which carries a maximum RM5,000 fine, imprisonment of up to three years, or both, upon conviction.
Badrul, 45, claimed trial to the charge after it was read before judge Rasidah Roslee.
He was represented by lawyer Rafique Rashid Ali while Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim was present as an observer.
Deputy public prosecutors Masri Daud, Ghafar Latif, Malik Ayob and Nadia Izhar recommended bail of RM20,000 with one surety.
They also requested a gag order prohibiting Badrul from making public statements, including on social media platforms, until the case is resolved to ensure that the trial will not be jeopardised.
However, Rafique said the proposed bail was excessively high when taking into account the amount of the maximum fine to be imposed on anyone found guilty of such an offence.
“My client has been charged with similar offences in the Kuala Lumpur sessions court, with bail set there at RM10,000 with one surety,” he said.
“The requested gag order for my client to be barred from making any comments or statements is also too vague and appears to be more like an injunction.
“Such an order would be unconstitutional as, under Article 10 (of the Federal Constitution), Malaysian citizens have the freedom to discuss any matter openly as long as it is not against the law.”
Rasidah allowed bail of RM10,000 with one surety.
She also rejected the proposed gag order on grounds the prosecution had failed to present evidence or written affidavits to show that the accused or related parties would jeopardise the fairness of the trial.
The court set June 24 for further mention of the case, submission of documents and setting of trial dates.
Badrul pleaded not guilty to two charges of criminal defamation and sedition at the cybercrime sessions court in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
He was accused of making defamatory statements at Istana Negara at 6pm on Jan 22, which could damage the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s reputation.
The offence under Section 500 of the Penal Code carries a maximum two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both, upon conviction.
Badrul was also charged under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948 with publishing seditious statements against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on his Facebook page in Taman Bukit Cheras at 12.15pm on April 6.