AGC to review cases of Dr Azmi, others charged under Sedition Act

The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) is in the midst of reviewing the cases involving Assoc Prof Dr Azmi Sharom and several others who were charged under the Sedition Act 1948.

The final decision on the matter will be made soon.

Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail in a statement here today said the AGC had always concerned about issues raised by any quarters in regards to cases which had been given green light for prosecution.

As such, the move to review the cases was indeed a normal procedure in any prosecution process to ensure that the AGC would remain fair, just and transparent in discharging its duties.

Abdul Gani said the AGC was also committed to discharging its duties based on the laws, especially in the prosecution of criminal cases without interference from any quarters.

Azmi, who is Universiti Malaya (UM) law lecturer, pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here last week (Sept 2) to a charge of using seditious words over the Perak 2009 crisis.

He was alleged to have committed the offence at the Kuala Lumpur Police Contingent headquarters in Jalan Hang Tuah at 12.30 pm on Aug 12.

Azmi, who is also UM Academic Staff Association president, also pleaded not guilty to an alternative charge of publishing the seditious words over the same crisis at the same time and place.

The charges were made under Section 4(1)(b) and Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948 respectively, and punishable with a fine of up to RM5,000 or a jail term of up to three years, or both, if convicted.