SHAH ALAM: A freelance public speaker was charged with sedition at the Sessions Court here on Sept 10 (Wednesday), over a posting he made on Facebook 22 months ago.

Wan Ji Wan Hussin pleaded not guilty to making a seditious statement, which allegedly insulted the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

He is alleged to have committed the offence at the Selangor state secretariat housing office here, on Nov 05 last year.

Wan Ji, 32, was charged under Section 4(1)(C) of the Sedition Act 1948 and the offence is punishable under Section 4(1) of the same Act, which carries a fine not exceeding RM5,000 or a jail term of up to three years, or both.

His counsel, Radzlan Jalaludin, asked the court for bail to be set at RM2,000, saying his client could not afford a big amount, as he has four children to support.     

Judge Slamat Yahya allowed Wan Ji bail of RM5,000 in one surety, and fixed Oct 10 for case mention. Wan Ji paid the bail.

The judge also ordered Wan Ji, a former Selangor PAS committee member, to surrender his passport, but he claimed he had lost it.  

The court then issued an order for the Immigration Department, to prevent Wan Ji from going abroad. — Bernama


This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on Sept 11, 2014.