KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 13 — The Sessions Court here today fined PKR Youth vice-chief Mohd Nazree Mohd Yunos, 29, and the wing’s executive council member Mohd Alfaizal Amjed, 32, RM1,900 each after they pleaded guilty to participating in an illegal assembly at a mosque during the ‘Blackout 505’ rally last June.

Judge Mat Ghani Abdullah made the decision after the duo changed their plea to guilty last Wednesday when the case was set for trial. The court also ordered then to serve two months’ jail each if they failed to pay the fine.

Both of them paid the fine.

In August, they were charged in court for participating in a gathering at a restricted area, which is a place of worship. The offence took place within the vicinity of Masjid Ar-Rahman, Universiti Malaya, here, between noon and 1.15pm on June 22.

They were charged under Section 4 (2) (b) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 which carries a maximum fine of RM10,000 if convicted.

According to the facts of the case, on the day of the incident, both Mohd Nazree and Mohd Alfaizal gave speeches at the rally within the mosque compound before heading to Padang Merbok with the other participants to join the ‘Blackout 505’ assembly.

Mohd Nazree was represented by counsel A. Jeyaseelan while counsel R. Thirukumaran acted for Alfaizal.

Deputy public prosecutors Nurulhuda Aini Mohd Nor, Ahmad Ishrakh Saad and Iznina Hanim Hashim appeared for the prosecution.

Meanwhile, the trial against six other individuals, including Bukit Katil member of parliament Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, who still maintained their not guilty plea on the same charge, will be continued on March 14.

The opposition held a series of “Blackout” rallies after the 13th General Election on May 5 claiming there was fraud in the conduct of the election. — Bernama