Maria Chin, six others to refer question of law on charge against them

Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin Abdullah is filing an application at the Federal Court to refer questions of law on a charge of participating in the #KitaLawan street protest made against her.

Her lawyer, Gooi Hsiao Leung, told Magistrate Nur Azura Murah when the case came up in the Magistrate's Court here today.

Besides Maria Chin, three others -- Jingga 13 chairman Mohd. Fariz Abd Talib@Musa, Bersih 2.0 secretariat manager Mandeep Singh and Bayan Baru Member of Parliament Sim Tze Tzin -- are also filing the same application.

They were charged with others still at large with participating in a demonstration from a fountain at Jalan Tun Perak until Sogo Complex between 3.15 pm and 6 pm last March 28.

The demonstration was held, among others, to call for reformation and the release of jailed opposition politician Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, for freedom of speech and freedom to assemble.

Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, who prosecuted, asked for the court to set the hearing date.

However, the court set Dec 7 for mention to enable the accused to refer on the question of law at the Federal Court.

Meanwhile in another Magistrate's Court, Teja Assemblyman Chang Lih Kang, 35; special aid to Batu MP Rozan Azen Mat Rasip, 38, and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) member Lee Chean Chung, 34, also told the court that they would be filing similar applications to the Federal Court.

The three had pleaded not guilty to participating in a similar demonstration from Sogo Complex to a fountain at Jalan Tun Perak here between 4.30 pm and 5.05 pm last March 21.

They were all charged under Section 4(2)(c) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, which carries a fine not exceeding RM10,000, if found guilty.

Magistrate Ashraf Rezal Abdul Manan set Dec 7 for mention.