Bersih activist charged with trespassing

The activist pleaded not guilty to entering USM illegally to put up rally posters.

GEORGE TOWN: A Bersih 3.0 activist from Suaram was charged with trespassing into a local university last month at a magistrate’s court here today.

Tan Hong Kai, 21, pleaded not guilty to the charge before magistrate Noor Aini Yusof.

Tan was granted bail of RM1,500 with one surety.

He was charged with criminal trespassing into Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) between 2.30am and 3am on April 20.

The charge under Section 447 of the Penal Code carries a jail term of up to six months or a maximum fine of RM3,000, or both upon conviction.

The case will be up for mention on June 8.

Tan was represented by lawyer Tham Shien Shyong while DPP Nur Azizah Jaafar prosecuted.

Suaram members were also present at the court house.

Tan, a Suaram volunteer for the past several months, was detained by USM guards while he and several university students were putting up Bersih 3.0 rally posters on April 20.

Tan, not a USM student, was later handed over to the Sungai Nibong police station before being transferred to the Jalan Patani police station.

He was released on police bail after a few hours of interrogation.

At a press conference later in the court building, Suaram state secretariat member Ng Eng Kiat “praised” the police for their speedy investigation and prosecution of Tan.

However, he questioned why the police failed to demonstrate the same zest in detaining and charging the thugs involved in a fracas during a peaceful anti-Lynas gathering at the Esplanade on April 26.

In the incident, some 30 men from Umno and Perkasa disrupted the peaceful gathering, hurled abuses at protesters, incited violence, vandalised banners and placards, and even roughed up two journalists.

One of them was identified as Penang Perkasa leader Mohd Rizuad Mohd Azudin.

Eyewitnesses have claimed that the police who were present did not intervene to stop the fracas.

In the aftermath of the incident, several police reports were lodged and strong evidence, including photos and video clips, was handed over to assist investigation.

However, until today the police have not made any arrest.