Law lecturer applies for sedition trial to be moved to High Court

Azmi Sharom has applied for his sedition trial to be moved to the High Court. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Seth Akmal, December 15, 2015.

Law professor Azmi Sharom's sedition trial began today, with the Universiti Malaya lecturer applying to have his trial moved to the High Court from the Sessions Court.

The application was made by Azmi's lawyer Gobind Singh Deo, and sessions judge Amernuddin Ahmad would be delivering a decision on the matter tomorrow.

The Universiti Malaya lecturer was charged on September 2 last year with sedition over his comments in an article, “Take Perak crisis route for speedy end to Selangor impasse, Pakatan told”, published in a news portal.

If convicted, Azmi will face a maximum fine of RM5,000 or three years’ prison, or both.

According to Gobind, the Federal Court's ruling to dismiss Azmi's constitutional challenge of the Sedition Act in October contradicted a precedent set in the judgment of Melan Abdullah v public prosecutor, which involves the same law.

"There will be legal challenges in the trial as the judge has to decide based on two contradictory judgements.

"Therefore, we leave it to the High Court to decide," he said.

A handful of academicians show up in their robes as a solidarity move for Azmi Sharom. – The Malaysian Insider pic, December 15, 2015.Academicians from other institutions and organisations, dressed in their robes, gathered in a show of support for Azmi outside the courtroom at the court complex in Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur today.

Professor Wan Manan Wan Muda, who heads the Malaysian Academic Movement's (MOVE), said academics nationwide must unite for the freedom of speech and academic thought.

"We urge all academic staff in Malaysia, who have a conscience, to unite in upholding academic freedom and university autonomy.

"We will take the necessary action in the future to face threats to academic freedom, both from within and outside the university," he said.

MORE TO COME

- TMI