Jannie
KOTA KINABALU: The Magistrate’s Court here yesterday heard that about 400 personnel were involved in Ops Aman Bersih 4.0 to maintain public order during Bersih 4.0 Kota Kinabalu (B4KK) rally.
Istana Negeri chief security officer ASP Fauzi Abdul Kadir, who was testifying before Magistrate Cindy Mc Juce Balitus, said he was ordered by the OCPD to make preparations over Ops Aman Bersih 4.0 on August 2015.
“Before the B4KK rally, I was ordered by the OCPD to be the acting chief of public order and Kota Kinabalu traffic on August 2015 because ASP Sylvester had been admitted to the hospital at that time.
“In preparation for Ops Aman Bersih 4.0, we applied for assistance of personnel, and assignments were given in groups, including field order, prevention of riots, emergency, air monitoring, traffic control, investigation, raids and arrest, sea security control and Kota Kinabalu District Control Centre (DCC),” he explained.
The personnel were from the Kota Kinabalu police headquarters, Sabah air police, and the marine police.
Fauzi was the seventh witness called by the prosecution to give his oral evidence in the trial of Sabah Bersih chairperson Jannie Lasimbang, 53, who was charged under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.
The first charge against Jannie stated that she had allegedly organized an assembly at Taman Awam Teluk Likas at Tanjung Lipat in Likas here at about 2pm to 9.30pm on Aug 29, and 10am to 12pm on Aug 30, respectively, without notifying the officer in charge of a police district, Kota Kinabalu (OCPD KK) ACP Chandrasehkaran Muthu, 10 days before the date of the assembly.
The second count stated that she had allegedly failed to produce a copy of City Hall’s (DBKK) approval (on the rally’s venue) and her notification dated Aug 19 to the OCPD KK pertaining to the assembly.
The charges were framed under Section 9 (5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, which is punishable by a fine of up to RM10,000, upon conviction.
Jannie also faces two alternative charges, namely she was alleged to have failed to comply with the restrictions and conditions imposed by the OCPD to have the approval of City Hall pertaining to the assembly, both at the same place and time.
These indictments come under Section 15 (3) of the same Act, which also carries a maximum fine of RM10,000, upon conviction.
Under examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Gan Peng Kun, Fauzi also said briefings were given twice to the personnel and officers involved in the operation at Kota Kinabalu police headquarters on August 28, 2015.
To a question by Gan, Fauzi said each of the team was placed at different locations during the rally on August 29, 2015, including at the Sabah Trade Centre (STC), Bandaraya Mosque and Tanjung Lipat One and Two.
“On the rally day, I was patrolling at the locations placed for the teams, and reports were given to DCC, where I verified the reports as I was at the locations.
“I received reports from officers at about 11am that there were individuals, wearing clothes with Bersih 4.0 written on them, gathered at the STC car park and the mosque car park. I then reported it to the OCPD and received order to monitor their movements,” he said.
To another question by Gan, Fauzi also said he saw groups of people wearing yellow shirts carrying banners and placards marching from STC to Tanjung Lipat Two at 2pm.
On the first day of the rally, Fauzi told the court that he was on duty until about 9.15pm while other personnel were given duty in shifts.
Jannie, who is represented by counsel Ram Singh, is currently released on bail of RM3,000 with RM1,000 deposited with one local surety pending disposal of the case.
The trial continues today.