13 jailed, fined for opposing Zambry’s appointment as Perak MB in 2009
Published: 18 March 2015 10:52 AM
Thirteen people, who demonstrated against the appointment of Barisan Nasional's Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir (pic) as the new Perak menteri besar after the fall of the Pakatan Rakyat-led state government in 2009, have been sentenced to 10 months' jail and a RM,5000 fine each by the Court of Appeal today.
Sentencing began immediately for the 13 PAS supporters, who were transferred to jail after the court's decision in Putrajaya.
The appellate court's ruling overrides the decision by the Sessions Court and High Court on the case.
Judge Datuk Abdul Rahman Sebli, a member of the bench, who delivered an oral ruling, said the Federal Constitution allowed for freedom of assembly but any gathering would become illegal if there was a riot.
The 13 are Bad Latif Mansor, 48; Suhana Abdullah, 50; Mohd Faiz Mohd Arshad, 27; Zulhaizam Zulkifli, 30; Isha Riduan Ishak, 60; Adi Hilmee Mohd Nasir, 45; Mohamad Nazeer Hameed, 49; Khairul Azmi Hassan Basri, 49; Mohd Hasri Ismail, 49; and Mohamed Ismail S.M. Abdul Kadir, 48, Idris Mohd Thaib, 49; Meor Safizal Meor Mohamed Amin, 40; and Yusoff Jaafar, 49.
Counsel for the accused Aminudin Zulkipli said that it would be difficult for the 13 to file an appeal to the Federal Court, since this was the second time appealing their conviction.
The 13 had been among Pakatan Rakyat supporters who held a demonstration along the road leading to the palace in Kuala Kangsar, Perak, where Zambry was taking his oath of office as menteri besar before the Sultan of Perak.
Some of the demonstrators had tried to block the road leading to the palace by lying down on the road and staging a sit-in. News reports on that day said protesters had also hurled sticks and water bottles at police.
Zambry was sworn in on February 6, 2009, following an impasse after the Pakatan Rakyat state government lost its majority in the legislative assembly when four of its assemblymen left the opposition pact.
The sultan did not grant then menteri besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin's request for a dissolution of the state assembly to hold fresh polls and asked the PAS menteri besar and his exco to resign.
Their refusal triggered a constitutional crisis as to whether a ruler could remove a menteri besar without a vote taken by the legislate assembly. – March 18, 2015.
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