KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 — A woman’s actions in dropping yellow balloons at an event attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak risked angering those present due to the proximity to the Bersih 4 rally, the Magistrates Court here heard today.

According to auxiliary police officer Irmalinda Zaimardy who was testifying at the trial of Bilqis Hijjas, she arrested the woman and subsequently lodged a police report against her as the incident took place a day after the rally demanding the prime minister’s resignation last year.

“Because she did it in a manner that was insulting with the purpose of sparking anger where the peace may be disturbed,” she said from the witness stand when deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Nurakmal Farhan Aziz asked what motivated her to take Bilqis into custody.

But when asked how the yellow balloons could be directly linked to the Bersih 4 rally, Irmalinda paused at length several times before saying she had been on standby in the Bukit Bintang shopping district for the protest.

When pressed to explain how the two were connected, the auxiliary police officer remained silent and did not respond.

The DPP then asked for the trial to be postponed, saying that the witness appeared “unwell”.

“The prosecutor was ready to continue with the case but she said ‘I am unable to continue with the case’ and I didn’t object to it because she (Irmalinda) looked unwell and uneasy,” Bilqis’ lawyer Michelle Yesudas recounted.

Throughout today’s trial, Irmalinda recounted that she was on duty at the shopping mall when she saw three balloons falling from the fifth floor down onto the second floor, where the event with the prime minister and his wife was being held, before they settled behind a large screen.

She was subsequently ordered to head up to the fifth floor which was where she detained Bilqis who was seen blowing a yellow balloon while holding a translucent plastic bag containing one more yellow balloon.

The auxiliary police also said that she later went back to collect the balloons, but all that remained were shreds as all seven balloons that were dropped had already burst.

She did not say, however, if the balloons burst on impact or caused to burst by an individual.

Magistrate Muhammad Faizal Ismail set April 18, 19 and 20 for the trial to continue as the DPP had “three to four” more witnesses.

The daughter of prominent architect Hijjas Kasturi was charged with “insulting behaviour” against the prime minister and his wife by dropping seven balloons printed with the words “Free media”, “Democracy” and “Justice” from the top floor of a popular mall in the capital city last August, in support of electoral reform advocacy group Bersih 2.0.

Bilqis was charged under Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955 and faces a maximum RM100 fine if found guilty.

Michelle also said that while she was pleased that the trial had finally begun, after a three-hour delay due to the DPP’s late arrival, it was still unsettling that the throwing of balloons is still seen as a punishable offence.

Bilqis said that while she was “unconvinced” with the prosecution’s case today, what frustrated her more were the delays in the case, after the DPP showed up three hours late today while the next court date will only be in April.

“Now we are almost postponed another two months before the next series of trials and this is going to go on forever. And all for the sake of a RM100 fine? Is that really reasonable?” she questioned.