KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 13 — The Sessions Court here ordered today PKR member Badrul Hisham Shaharin, activist Adam Adli Abdul Halim and 13 other activists to enter their defence in an illegal assembly charge over a 2013 rally at Parliament.

News portal The Star Online reported that Justice Abdul Rashid Daud had also ordered Badrul Hisham, better known as Chegubard, Adam Adli and eight other people to enter their defence for another charge, which was rioting on the road leading to Parliament.

News portal The Malaysian Insider reported that 18 of the 33 charged with gathering in an illegal assembly were acquitted.

Seven of the 17 charged with rioting were also reportedly acquitted.

The offences were allegedly committed on June 24, 2013, according to The Star Online, shortly after the contentious 13th general election in May that saw Barisan Nasional (BN) losing the popular vote.

According to The Malaysian Insider, protesters had gathered at the Parliament building to pass a memorandum to lawmakers who were being sworn in.

Trial has been fixed for January 26 and 27.