UM law lecturer denies uttering seditious words

KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Malaya (UM) law lecturer, Associate Prof Dr Azmi Sharom (pix), today pleaded not guilty to a charge of using seditious words over the Perak 2009 crisis, two weeks ago.
Azmi, 45, made the plea after the charge was read to him before judge Zainol Rashid Hussain.
Azmi is alleged to have uttered the seditious words at the Kuala Lumpur contingent police headquarters in Jalan Hang Tuah, here, at 12.30pm on Aug 12.
Azmi, who is Universiti Malaya Academic Staff Association president, also pleaded not guilty to an alternative charge of publishing the seditious words over the same crisis at the same time and place.
The charges were made under Section 4(1)(b) and Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948 respectively, and punishable with a fine of up to RM5,000 or a jail term of up to three years, or both.
Zainol Rashid allowed the accused bail of RM5,000 in one surety.
He also fixed Oct 3 for case mention. Azmi paid the bail.
DPP Suhaimi Ibrahim appeared for the prosecution while Azmi was represented by Gobind Singh Deo. – Bernama