Lokman in court, expected to be charged over UM fracas

Umno Supreme Council member Lokman Noor Adam and three other party members are expected to be charged at the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate Court later today over the fracas with Universiti Malaya (UM) students last Friday.

According to Lokman, who spoke to reporters while waiting for his case to be heard by the court, he was informed that he would face two criminal charges for allegedly tearing a poster and causing injuries to one of the students.

Others who are expected to be charged alongside Lokman are Petaling Jaya Umno division chief Abdul Mutalif Abdul Rahim, and two Lembah Pantai Umno members.

Lokman said the charges include one of the men caught on video performing a chokehold against a UM student, while Mutalif would be facing charges for allegedly hurting Malaysiakini interns during the incident.

Commenting on the charges against him, the politician claimed that it was selective prosecution and of "malicious" intention.

This, he added, was because the UM students who participated in the demonstration against former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak on that day were not being pressed with any charges despite them participating in a rally that was conducted without giving notice to the police as per requirement under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.

"Secondly, they (the students) had also used caricature that had been ruled by court as demeaning and provocative (menghina dan provokasi).

"And third, the students had thrown 'kata-kata kesat' (crude remarks) against Najib, (calling him) a thief and a robber," he said when met at the Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex earlier this morning.

Lokman said he has no issue with being charged, saying that he and his comrades were innocent.

He claimed that they can win the case "if the country still practises rule of law", but expressed his scepticism as he alleged that the attorney-general and the chief justice were "appointed by DAP".

Lokman also reiterated that he and Mutalif were merely trying to rescue the UM student who was being held in a chokehold.

[More to follow] - Mkini