Azmi Sharom's sedition trial to start today, court rules despite pending appeal

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 14 — Universiti Malaya (UM) senior law lecturer Azmi Sharom's sedition trial will proceed as scheduled today despite a pending appeal at the Court of Appeal, the Sessions Court ruled this morning.

Azmi's lawyer Gobind Singh Deo had asked the Sessions Court to defer today’s hearing until the Court of Appeal decides on a matter related to the trial.

Prosecutor Suhaimi Ibrahim told the judge, however, that the sedition trial could likely be completed quickly.

"Application to stay the trial is rejected," Sessions Court judge Amernudin Ahmad said today, but did not provide reasons for his decision.

The trial will begin at 10am.

Last December 16, Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court judge Amernudin Ahmad dismissed Azmi’s application to adjourn the trial there until the High Court disposes of the associate professor’s application to transfer the case.

Yesterday, Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Datuk Hj Ab Karim Ab Rahman dismissed Azmi's application to transfer the trial to the High Court and also did not grant an application to direct a stay of today's trial.

Gobind had told the High Court yesterday that his client will be appealing against its decision to have the sedition trial heard at the Sessions Court.

Previously, Gobind had said Azmi's application to transfer his trial from the Sessions Court to the High Court was meant to pave the way for the Federal Court to ultimately ensure a fair trial for all Malaysians accused of sedition by clearing up a legal uncertainty over the defences available.

One of the points raised in the transfer application is whether the statutory defences under Section 3(2) of the Sedition Act, where it is not seditious to point out a mistake by the government or by the rulers, will be rendered redundant by Section 3(3), which says intention is irrelevant.

Azmi was charged on September 2, 2014, under Section 4(1)(b) and alternatively under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act for a remark he made in an article titled “Take Perak crisis route for speedy end to Selangor impasse, Pakatan told”, with a conviction under either charge punishable by a maximum RM5,000 fine, a maximum three-year jail term or both.