Two Zunar fans charged with obstructing a police officer

Two fans of cartoonist Zunar were today separately charged at the Magistrate's Court in Kuala Lumpur with obstruction of a public officer in Dec 2016.

The two - Toong Ah Tee, 62, an engineer, and 39-year-old freelancer Wong Chee Wai, claimed trial to the charge.

Toong was charged before magistrate Siti Radziah Kamarudin, while Wong was charged before magistrate Mahyuddin Mohamad Som.

Both of them were charged with the obstruction of Deputy Superintendent of police M Gunalan at the “Tea with Zunar” event held on the First Floor of the Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall at about 2:30 pm on Dec 17, 2016.

If convicted, they face up to two years imprisonment, or a fine not exceeding RM10,000. 

The two were represented by lawyer Nicole Tan.

Magistrate Siti Radziah imposed a bail of RM5,000 with one surety for Toong while Mahyuddin asked Wong to pay an RM1,000 bail with one surety.

They fixed Feb 8 and Feb 7 as mention.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Nor Farah Adila Nordin and K Vasugi appeared for the prosecution.

Zunar, whose real name is Zulkiflee SM Anwarul Haque was also present to render support to them. He told reporters that he was also picked up by the police at the event.

Yesterday, it was reported that Zunar failed to reach a mediation at the Kuala Lumpur High Court in a suit he filed against the police, including Gunalan, for the seizure of his merchandise at the function.

Gunalan and his team of officers seized 1,089 cartoon books and 100 T-shirts, which Zunar had been selling.

The cartoonist is seeking special damages totalling RM22,388 for the seizure and general and aggravated damages in the suit.

The titles of the nine books seized are "Wasabi Wa Sapu Billion", "Sapuman: Man of Steel," "Ros in Kangkong Land," "Pirates of the Carrry-BN," "Isu dalam Kartun Alternatif Reformasi Sarkastik," "The Conspiracy to Convict Anwar, Najib Convicts Judges Follow," "Showcase Kumpulan Kartunis Independen," "Hikayat Pak Monggol dan Scorpene," and "Hikayat Lembu-lembu Kondo."- Mkini