Kota Kinabalu: Four Sabah Sarawak Keluar Malaysia (SSKM) activists were given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) from a charge of having materials urging Sabah and Sarawak to leave Malaysia on Wednesday.Sessions Court Judge Abu Bakar Manaf gave the DNAA to Azrie Situ, 24, Jemmy Liku Markus Situ, 32, Erick Jack William, 29, and Joseph Koilis, 29, on the application of the prosecution.Abu Bakar also ordered the bail paid by the four to be refunded.
ADVERTISEMENT
Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Gan Peng Kun informed the court that there was a new development on the case as he has received instructions on Sept 7 this year from his headquarters for a DNAA be given to the four.The four were supposed to stand trial over three days from Wednesday.
They allegedly had in their possession pamphlets with the seditious content at 9.50am on Feb 1, 2015 at the weekly Tamu in Tuaran.Erick allegedly had 91 pieces of the seditious pamphlets, Joseph, 13 pieces, Azrie, five pieces and Jemmy, one piece.
ADVERTISEMENT
They were charged under Section 4(2) of the Sedition Act which carries a fine of up to RM2,000 or a jail term of up to 18 months, or both, on conviction and the offending publication seized and destroyed.The four were released on a bail of RM20,000 with RM10,000 deposited in a local surety each and also asked to surrender their passports, if any, to the court.
ADVERTISEMENT
Counsel Tengku Fuad Tengku Ahmad represented the four. Also present during the proceedings was Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President Datuk Yong Teck Lee. Meanwhile, in another case, Sabah Forest Industries (SFI) Sdn Bhd was charged with committing an offence under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.The company which was represented by its Safety Manager Zafarull Ismail pleaded not guilty before Sessions Court Judge Ainul Shahrin Mohamad.The company allegedly failed to ensure its worker's safety, health and welfare at work, namely for one Benjamin Francis Gilong who was doing cleaning work at the main clarifier.The crime allegedly took place at the SFI Complex in Jalan Jeti, Sipitang on Feb 5 this year.The offence under Section 15(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 provides for a fine of up to RM50,000, or a jail term of up to two years, or both, on conviction.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Ainul fixed Feb 16-17 next year for hearing and released Zafarull on a bail of RM10,000 in two local sureties.Prosecuting Officer Mohd Afdhalluedin Mat Yusof from the Department of Occupational Safety and Health appeared for the prosecution.