Seditious speech: Former lawyer jailed 8 months
Published on: Friday, April 15, 2016
Kuala Lumpur: A former lawyer, Haris Fathillah Mohamed Ibrahim, was sentenced to eight months' jail by the Sessions Court here Thursday for making a seditious speech three years ago.Judge Shamsudin Abdullah made the decision after finding Haris Fathillah, 57, guilty under the Sedition Act 1948.He ordered the former lawyer to serve the sentence from Thursday.
ADVERTISEMENT
"The court finds the words uttered by the accused are to raise discontent towards the ruling government and the words too have a tendency to instigate the people of Malaysia to change the existing government," said the judge.Shamsuddin also said the defence by the accused was merely a denial.However, he allowed a stay of the sentence pending an appeal at the High Court, but increased the bail to RM10,000 from RM5,000. Haris Fathillah was represented by lawyer Gobind Singh Deo.Earlier in mitigation, Gobind asked the court to only impose fine as his client had no previous record.
ADVERTISEMENT
"My client is a former lawyer with 20 years experience and is an active social activist," he said, adding that Haris Fathillah had two children and was undergoing treatment for diabetes, arthritis and heart problem.Deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Ilmami Ahmad objected to it, saying that the offence was serious and warranted imprisonment.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Sedition is not only a serious offence but can also threaten peace and harmony," he said, adding that as a former lawyer, Haris Fathillah should have the knowledge and taken the lawful action in resolve issues on the general election.On May 29, 2013, Haris Fathillah pleaded not guilty to a charge of giving a seditious speech to raise the ire of the people in the country to change the Government through unlawful means.Also charged with him were Parti Keadilan Rakyat vice-president Chua Tian Chiang or more well-known as Tian Chua, 53, pro-opposition activist Adam Adli Abd Halim, 27; activist Hishamuddin Md Rais, 65; PAS member Mohd Tamrin Abdul Ghafar, 66; and former Student Solidarity of Malaysia chairman Muhammad Safwan Anang@Talib, 27.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
They were charged with committing the offence at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, Jalan Maharaja Lela, Dang Wangi here between 8.55pm and 11.15pm on May 13, 2013.The charge was made under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948, which provided a fine of up to RM5,000, or jail for up to three years, or both, if found guilty.