Ex-student activist granted DNAA for a second time

 

Former student activist Wong Yan Ke with (from left) Farida Mohammad, Chan Yen Hui, Chong Kar Yan and Liau Pin Chun at the magistrates’ court. (Wong Yan Ke pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

Former student activist Wong Yan Ke was granted yet another discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) after six prosecution witnesses failed to turn up at the Petaling Jaya magistrates’ court today.

Wong, currently the Bersih deputy chairman, told FMT the conditional discharge was unfair as it meant that he could be hauled to court again.

“My counsel also objected. Our argument was that this has been dragging on for so long and it’s not the first time the prosecution has failed to produce the witnesses.

It is unfair, plus it is a waste of time and public resources.

Wong said he was not ruling out filing an appeal for a full acquittal.

Wong was represented by Chong Kar Yan, Chan Yen Hui, Farida Mohammad and Liau Pin Chun.

The former Universiti Malaya Association of New Youth (Umany) president was granted a DNAA last year over a charge of disobeying a police order to stop recording a raid three years ago.

The court decided to grant Wong the conditional discharge after the prosecution failed to present any of its five witnesses in court, a decision which he said 

fell short of the desired outcome

.

However, in November, the DNAA was set aside by the High Court, and Wong was ordered to stand trial.

Wong was arrested on Nov 7, 2020, when police conducted a raid on the residence of fellow activist Yap Wen Qing in relation to an investigation into an article published by Umany concerning the role of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. - FMT