High Court upholds decision on Tian Chua in sedition charge

The High Court here Wednesday upheld the Sessions Court's ruling that the sedition trial of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice president Tian Chua and five others should be heard separately.

Justice Kamardin Hashim said the Sessions Court had exercised its discretion properly.

Judge Norsharidah Awang ruled last Sept 13 that trial for the six who are accused of making seditious remarks in a public forum on May 13 this year, should be conducted separately so as not to prejudice them, as their speech texts were unsimilar and presented at different times.

Besides Tian Chua whose full name is Chua Tian Chiang, 50, the other accused are university student Adam Adli Abd Halim, 24; activist Hishamuddin Md Rais, 62; PAS member Mohd Tamrin Abdul Ghafar, 63; Haris Fathillah Mohamed Ibrahim, 54, and Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia chairman Muhammad Safwan Awang @ Talib, 24.

Deputy public prosecutor Azlina Rasdi represented the prosecution while Tian Chua, Adam Adli and Hishamuddin were represented by counsel Michelle Yesudas.

Haris Fathillah was represented by counsel Gobind Singh Deo while Muhammad Safwan and Mohd Tamrin by counsel Azizzul Shariman Mat Yusoff.