Tian Chua
PUTRAJAYA: The prosecution yesterday withdrew its appeal against Batu MP Tian Chua’s sedition charge acquittal.
Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat who chaired a three-member panel, struck out the appeal after deputy public prosecutor K Mangai informed the court that the prosecution had withdrawn its appeal against Tian Chua.
The other two judges on the panel were Justices Datuk Ahmadi Asnawi and Datuk Zabariah Mohd Yusof.
With this development, Tian Chua or Chua Tian Chang’s acquittal remains.
The Court of Appeal is the last avenue for the prosecution to appeal as this case had originated from the Sessions Court.
On March 2, this year, the Kuala Lumpur High Court upheld the Sessions Court’s decision to acquit Tian Chua of sedition after rejecting the prosecution’s appeal.
Judicial commissioner Datuk Nordin Hassan ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove that Tian Chua had uttered seditious words in regard to the Lahad Datu intrusion, in a news portal article.
On Nov 14, 2014, Sessions Court judge Norsharidah Awang discharged and acquitted Tian Chua, 52, without calling for his defence.
Tian Chua was accused of sedition by stating that the intrusion in Lahad Datu was a conspiracy planned by Umno to divert attention and to frighten the people.
He was alleged to have committed the offence at Fraser Business Park, Jalan Metro Pudu, off Jalan Yew here around 11am on March 1, 2013.
Tian Chua who was present at the proceeding was represented by counsel Eric Paulsen. — Bernama