Man claims trial to displaying Agong's photo during KKB by-election

P Ramasamy gets his day in court to contest a criminal charge of displaying the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s photo during the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election to affect how the constituents vote.

The 66-year-old self-employed man claimed trial to the charge read out to him before the Kuala Kubu Baharu Sessions Court this morning.

Ramasamy was charged again after the Shah Alam High Court on May 24 allowed his revision application to quash his conviction and sentencing due to his initial “qualified plea” (where he did not understand the nature of the offence).

The charge was framed under Section 4A(1) of the Election Offences Act 1954, which involves the making of statements that promote feelings of ill-will, discontent or hostility between persons of the same race or different races or of the same class or different classes of the population of Malaysia, to induce a voter to vote or refrain from voting at an election.

Ramasamy’s counsel Rajesh Nagarajan confirmed that his client pleaded not guilty when the charge was reread to him before Sessions Court judge Siti Fatimah Talib.

“The court set bail at RM4,000 with one surety, which his son as bailor has posted, and he is released from custody.

“The case will come up for mention on June 19,” Rajesh said.

On May 6, the Kuala Kubu Baharu Magistrate’s Court sentenced Ramasamy to one month in jail and a RM3,000 fine, following his guilty plea when charged then. No lawyer represented him at the time.

The lower court ordered Ramasamy to serve the custodial sentence from the date of his arrest on May 4, further ordering him to serve an additional 10 months in jail if he failed to pay the fine.

Ramasamy apologised to the lower court then and pleaded for a lighter sentence, stating he was unaware that his actions were wrong.

Ramasamy was accused of committing the act on a four-wheel drive around Taman Bukit Bunga near Hulu Selangor at 5.40pm on May 4, an offence which carries a jail term of not more than five years, a fine of not exceeding RM10,000, or both.

Following his initial conviction, the accused through counsel Rajesh filed the criminal revision application at the High Court. - Mkini