Sessions Court acquits Tian Chua of sedition charge

The Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today acquitted and discharged PKR vice-president Tian Chua of a sedition charge for allegedly linking Umno to the Lahad Datu intrusion.

In her judgement, Sessions Court judge Norsharidah Awang said the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against Tian Chua and as such, he need not enter his defence foe the case.

Norsharidah said Tian Chua’s statement, published in the Keadilan Daily news portal last year, was written according to the portal’s former journalist, Siti Nooraishah’s understanding.

"SP3 (Siti Nooraishah) agreed that there are parts which are changed by the sub-editor and is not the same as the original story.

"She agreed that the notes were not taken down 'verbatim' and the conversation was not recorded. "The article was based on a telephone conversation. It can be manipulated during editing by a sub-editor and according to the reporter’s understanding,” she said.

Tian Chua was charged under Section 4 (1) (b) of the Sedition Act 1948 on March 14 last year, which carries a maximum three-year jail term or a maximum fine of RM5,000 or both,upon conviction.