Bukit Kepong: Mat Sabu remains a free man

Former PAS deputy president Mohamed Sabu or Mat Sabu remains free from the defamation charge in connection with his remarks on the 1950 communist attack in Bukit Kepong.

High Court Judge Lim Chong Fong made the decision to uphold the acquittal of Mohamad after dismissing the appeal from Penang Prosecution Unit chief Datuk Razali Che Ani against the decision of the Butterworh Sessions Court judge on July 8, 2015 in acquitting the politician from the charge.

In his judgment, Lim said the words uttered by Mohamad on the Bukit Kepong incident were not defamatory, but his speech was exaggerated and sensationalised in the report published by Utusan Malaysia.

The judge also said there was no error in the decision made by the Session Court judge.

On July 8, 2015, Mohamad was acquitted and discharged by the Sessions Court on two charges in connection with his remarks on the communist attack.

Mohamed was charged with having defamed 25 policemen and their family members who defended themselves in an attack by communist guerillas at the Bukit Kepong police station on Feb 23, 1950.

He was alleged to have committed the offence in a speech at an Islamic kindergarten of PAS in Padang Menora, Tasek Gelugor, Penang, between 10 pm and midnight on Aug 23, 2011.

The charge, under Section 500 of the Penal Code, carries a two-year jail term or a fine, or both, on conviction.

Mohamad, who is now president of Parti Amanah Negara, also faced an alternative charge of having defamed three policemen, namely marine constable Abu Bakar Daud and constables Jaafar Hassan and Yusoff Rono and their families at the same place, date and time.

Razali said they would file an appeal at the Putrajaya Court of Appeals soon.

-- BERNAMA