#KitaLawan protest: PAS Youth ex-treasurer jailed eight months

Former PAS Youth treasurer Mohd Fakhrulrazi Mohd Mokhtar was sentenced to eight months by the Sessions Court here today for making seditious remarks at a #KitaLawan street demonstration calling for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's release.

Judge Shamsudin Abdullah handed down the sentence after finding Mohd Fakhrulrazi guilty.

In the judgment, Shamsudin said the seditious words used by Mohd Fakhrulrazi stirred hatred and disloyalty to the country's administration.

"The punishment meted is to give a lesson to the accused and those with tendency to commit the same offence, and taking into account public interest," he added.

He ordered Mohd Fakhrulrazi, who is now Amanah Nasional Youth vice-chief, to serve the sentence from today.

However, the court allowed a stay of the sentence pending an appeal at the High Court, but increased the bail from RM1,000 to RM5,000 with one surety.

On Sept 8 last year, Mohd Fakhrulrazi claimed trial to committing the offence in front of Sogo Complex in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman here at 4.30pm on Feb 21, 2015.

The charge under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act punishable under Section 4(1) of the same Act carries a maximum RM5,000 fine or two years' jail or both, on conviction.

Earlier during mitigation, lawyer Ariff Azami Hussein, representing Mohd Fakhrulrazi, said it was his client's first offence and requested the court to give him a second chance and to not impose the jail sentence.

"The accused is married. His wife is a teacher and they have six children, aged between 11 months and 13 years, and he had cooperated with the police during investigation," he added.

Ariff Azami said his client also had potential and would probably contest in the coming general election. He requested fine of not more than RM2,000.

Deputy public prosecutor Julia Ibrahim prosecuted.

The prosecution called five witnesses during the hearing, while Mohd Fakhrulrazi was the sole witness in the defence trial.