Court jails activist Hishamuddin Rais for nine months

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court on Friday jailed activist Hishamuddin Rais for nine months for sedition over his speech in 2013 calling for the people to take to the streets to protest the General Election results.

Justice Nordin Hassan, in allowing the prosecution’s appeal against last year’s Sessions Court RM5,000 fine meted out to the activist, ruled that the fine has no deterrent effect. “What the accused told the crowd that day to incite the people to change the government was a very serious offence,” he said.

Justice Nordin however allowed Hishamuddin’s lawyer Syahredzan Johan’s application to stay the execution pending appeal to the Court of Appeal.

He was released on RM6,000 bail.

The Sessions Court found activist Hishamuddin guilty last year of sedition over his speech at a forum in the Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall. He was fined RM5,000, in default six months’ jail.

Other speakers at the forum including Tian Chua, Tamrin Ghafar, Adam Adli Abdul Halim, Haris Ibrahim and Safwan Anang were also charged for sedition.

The High Court allowed Safwan’s appeal last year and reduced his 10 months jail term to a RM5,000 fine.