KOTA KINABALU: Former Sabah Bersih chairman Jannie Lasimbang hugged her lawyer Ram Singh and supporters after she was discharged and acquitted of the charges related to last year’s Bersih rally here.
Lasimbang and her supporters cheered outside the Kota Kinabalu magistrate’s court after magistrate Cindy Mc Juce Balitus made the ruling yesterday evening.
The former Suhakam (Human Rights Commission of Malaysia) commissioner was charged with two counts of organising the Bersih 4 rally at the Tanjung Lipat Public Park without a permit on Aug 29 and Aug 30 last year.
Lasimbang was charged under Section 9(1) of the Peaceful Assembly Act for not notifying the police 10 days before the rally as required under Section 10(c) of the said Act.
She also faced two alternative charges under Section 15(3) of the Peaceful Assembly Act for failing to comply with conditions imposed by the police to obtain approval from City Hall to use its venue for the gathering.
In her ruling, Cindy said that after taking into consideration the evidence of the prosecution, the court found that the prosecution did not make a prima facie case against the accused on the offences charged.
“Therefore, I shall order for the accused to be discharged and acquitted without calling for her defence,” she said, adding that her bail would be refunded.
Outside the court room, Lasimbang said the decision proved that every citizen had a right to peaceful assembly, provided that there was no ill or seditious intention.
By The Star Online