Court postpones Azmi Sharom’s sedition trial to next month

Law lecturer Dr Azmi Sharom’s sedition trial has been postponed to January 8. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, December 17, 2015.

Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court judge Amernuddin Ahmad today allowed the sedition trial of law lecturer Dr Azmi Sharom to be postponed until January next year.

Azmi's lawyer Joanne Chua made the application and was granted for the case to start on January 8, for submissions on Section 3(3) of the Sedition Act and its impact on the case.

Yesterday, the same judge denied Azmi's application to move the trial to the High Court.

Amernuddin said the Sessions Court possessed the power to hear the case.

On September 2 last year, the Universiti Malaya professor was charged under Section 4(1)(b) and Seksyen 4(1)(c) of the act for his comments published in an online news portal entitled “Take Perak crisis route for speedy end to Selangor impasse, Pakatan told”.

If convicted, he faces a maximum fine of RM5,000 or prison up to three years or both.

On October 6, the Federal Court dismissed Azmi’s application to challenge the constitutionality of the Sedition Act 1948.

The apex court declared that the law enacted under British rule was constitutional.

The ruling will impact some 30 politicians, government critics and activists who have been charged under the act since last year.

- TMI