CORONAVIRUS | PKR Youth legal affairs bureau today calls on the public prosecution’s office to appeal any sentences meted out to VIPs for violating the movement control order (MCO) believed to be disproportionate.
It said in some cases, even an RM1,000 fine would not be enough to serve as a deterrent especially when compared to similar sentences being handed to members of the public from lower income brackets.
“Even though the VIPs were charged and each pleaded guilty, the sentences meted out were the same or, in certain cases, lighter compared to ordinary citizens. If compared to regular citizens who receive minimum wage or who are from the B40 group, a fine of RM800 to RM1,000 will not have any impact and deterrent effect towards the VIPs.
“We understand the power to decide sentences is at the discretion of the judiciary and must be respected.
“However, the public prosecutors, that serve to safeguard public interests, must view this matter seriously to ensure the application of the same law to regular citizens and VIPs.
“Therefore, we urge the public prosecutors to review the (MCO) cases involving VIPs and take appropriate action, including filing appeals against the decisions for the sake of public interest and rule of law,” it said in a statement.
Under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within the Infected Local Areas) Regulations 2020, those found breaching the MCO are liable to a fine of up to RM1,000, a prison term of up to six months or both.
Yesterday, the daughter of Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Nurulhidayah (above), and her husband Saiful Nizam Mohd Yusoff were sentenced to an RM800 fine each after pleading guilty to violating the order in Putrajaya last month.
Her case came at the heels of Deputy Health Minister Noor Azmi Ghazali (below) and Perak executive councillor Razman Zakaria's cases, both of whom were fined RM1,000 each after pleading guilty to similar charges of violating the MCO in Perak.
These cases drew comparisons to those of regular citizens, some of whom were handed jail terms within the scope of the relevant law.
Last week, a single mother had her 30-day jail term replaced with an RM1,000 fine following an appeal to the Petaling Jaya High Court after eight days in jail.
On April 8, the Taiping High Court reduced the three-month jail sentences of two men caught on their way to go fishing to community service after deeming the sentences too harsh.
The two men were arrested after refusing to heed advice to return home during the MCO as they claimed they needed to fish to provide food for their families, after losing their source of income.
As of April 25, over 19,000 people have been arrested for breaching the MCO since it began on March 18. The order period, which entailed various levels of restrictions to movement, gathering, social distancing and work operations, is slated to end on May 12.
Meanwhile, the PKR Youth legal affairs bureau also criticised allegations that reporters present at the Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court were not allowed in court during the proceedings of Nurulhidayah’s case.
Similarly, in a statement last night, the National Union of Journalists Malaysia (NUJ) said it could be seen as hindering reporters from carrying out their duties in reporting the news, even if the cases involved influential or prominent personalities.
Yesterday, media group Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm) said journalists risk misquoting facts or not being able to present reliable information if prevented from covering such cases. - Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.