Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Bersih 17 trial date to be fixed on Friday

KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 - The Sessions Court will fix on Friday the date for the trial of 17 people charged with participating in last year's illegal Bersih rally.

This follows an application for a postponement filed by lawyer Mohd Khairuddin Othman who represented 15 of the accused here today.

He told Judge Rozana Ali Yusoff that lead counsel Hanifah Maidin and one of the accused -- Chua Tian Chang who is Parti Keadilan Rakyat information chief --could not turn up for today's hearing.

Hanifah was in Kuala Terengganu to handle an election petition, he said. Chua's lawyer, Lai Chee Hoe, said his client was in Parliament.

Also absent was lawyer G.K. Ganesan who acted for another accused , K. Gobalakrishnan. Gobalakrishnan said his attorney had other business to attend.

Khairuddin also said the defence needed more time to scrutinise all documents relating to the case.

In her order, Rozana said all the lawyers must come to the court on Friday but the 17 accused were excused.

The offence was allegedly committed along Jalan Istana Baru here on Nov 10, Nov 2007 at about 3.05 pm.

They are being charged under Section 143 of the Penal Code which carries up to two years in jail or a fine or both, alternatively Section 27(5)(a) of the Police Act which carries a maximum fine of RM10,000 and one year in jail. - Bernama

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