Rayer charged with sedition over anti-Umno remarks

GEORGE TOWN: Seri Delima assemblyman RSN Rayer (pix) was slapped with two separate sedition charges over anti-Umno remarks in the Sessions Court today.
He also faced an alternative charge of making a speech with the intent of breaking the peace.
Rayer, 43, claimed trial to all the charges.
He first appeared before Sessions Court Judge Zulhazmi Abdullah, where Rayer pleaded not guilty to a charge of uttering the words “celaka-celaka ini, celaka-celaka UMNO ini kurang ajar, biadap” at the Penang State Assembly around 9.19am on May 20, this year.
DPP Razali Che Ani requested bail to be set at RM20,000 but lead defence counsel, Gobind Singh, said his client would not be running away. “My client came on June 19 when asked to but he was not charged at that time,” he added.
Zulhazmi then set bail at RM3,000 in one surety and fixed Oct 17 for mention.
After that Rayer appeared before Sessions Court judge Zaharah Hussain where he was charged with repeating the alleged seditious remarks during a Bukit Gelugor by-election ceramah around 10pm at Island Glades on May 22.
On the alternative charge, under Section 504 of the Penal Code, Rayer was alleged to have committed intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of the peace. He was alleged to have made a speech which contained the words “tapi ini Umno memang celaka.”
Zaharah set bail at RM3,000 in one surety and also fixed Oct 17 for mention.
Razali appeared for the prosecution while Rayer was also defended by Ramkarpal Singh and S. Raveentharan.
The sedition charges, under Section 4(1) (b) of the Sedition Act, 1948, provides for a maximum five-year jail term or a fine of up to RM5,000, or both on conviction.
The charge under the Penal Code provides for a jail term of up to two years or a fine or both.