KUALA LUMPUR – The Shah Alam High Court has set aside the conviction and sentence of a man for displaying the photo of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim on a vehicle in Kuala Kubu Baharu during the by-election campaign.
Judicial commissioner Wendy Ooi Su Ghee ordered for a retrial of the case and the plea to be recorded again at the Kuala Kubu Baharu magistrates’ court.
This comes after Ooi reviewed the written submissions by the prosecution and defence.
It was reported that the high court found the initial guilty plea was equivocal as the accused did not understand the nature and consequences of his offence.
On May 6, 66-year-old P. Ramasamy was sentenced to a month’s jail and fined RM3,000 by Kuala Kubu Baharu magistrate Siti Fatimah Talib after pleading guilty.
He would also have to serve 10 months in jail if he failed to pay the fine.
Ramasamy was charged for promoting feelings of ill-will or hostility under Section 4A(1) of the Election Offences Act 1954.
Previously, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said two men would be charged for displaying the King’s photo on a vehicle in Kuala Kubu Baharu.
Later, Hulu Selangor police chief Ahmad Faizal Tahrim in a statement said only Ramasamy was charged as the other man was only a witness in the case.
Police seized a four-wheel drive with images of the Agong and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that was used in canvassing for votes in the state seat in Selangor.
Photos of one vehicle showed that it was mounted with Pakatan Harapan flags, but the ruling coalition denied that the stunt was part of its campaign. – May 23, 2024