Court sets Nov 7 to hear preliminary objections against Anwar’s Bersih 3.0 application

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KUALA LUMPUR: The Sessions Court here fixed Nov 7 to hear the prosecution’s preliminary objections against an application by Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to strike out charges accusing him of defying a court order relating to the Bersih 3.0 rally.

The proceedings were to have commenced yesterday before Judge Mahmud Abdullah, but Anwar’s lawyer Ram karpal Singh applied for an adjournment saying he needed time to consult his client who had indicated that he wished to withdraw the application.

The application had become academic as the High Court would be hearing a similar application by Anwar in regard to the charges against him under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, said Ram.

Last May 28, Anwar filed an objection against the order meted out by Magistrate Zaki Asyraf Zubir barring him from attending or participating in any rally at Dataran Merdeka here between April 28 and May 1, 2012.

Anwar, 64, together with Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali, 48, and Rembau PKR branch chief Badrul Hisham Shaharin (third accused), 34, were charged last May 22 with taking part in street demonstrations that allegedly led to chaos in the city.

The three also faced a second charge of conniving with Tangam Raju, Rajesh Kumar Gejinder and Farhan Ibrahim through inciting them to remove steel barricades at Jalan Raja here on the same day.

They are the first to be charged under Section 4(2)(c) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, which carries a fine of up to RM10,000 upon conviction.

Last July 2, all three of them were charged with conspiring with Tangam, Rajesh and Farhan and five or more supporters of ‘Gabungan Pilihan Raya Bersih dan Adil (Bersih 3.0)’ to defy a Magistrate’s Court order dated April 26 against holding a rally at Dataran Merdeka from April 28 until May 1, 2012.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Azmin’s lawyer Gurcharan Singh informed the court that he had received instructions to withdraw his client’s two applications, similar in content to Anwar’s applications.

Deputy public prosecutor Abdul Wahab Mohamad had no objections to the withdrawal. — Bernama