Gobind and Rizuad spar in court over RSN Rayer sedition case

GEORGE TOWN: Gabungan Perwakilan Melayu Pulau Pinang (GPEM) chief Mohd Rizuad Aizudin, exchanged heated words with Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo on the first day of Seri Delima assemblyman RSN Rayer's sedition case trial at Session Court today.
The situation in the court room became tense when Gobind who acted as Rayer counsel repeatedly questioned Rizuad the purpose of the demonstration allegedly held by Umno on Jan 10, 2014.
Rizuad's claim that he had no idea what was the purpose of the demonstration but had simply participated in the demonstration.
This incited the ire of Gobind, who challenged Rizuad to display in court the same bravery he allegedly shows in demonstrations.
Rizuad then called Gobind "a stupid lawyer", to which Gobind retaliated and called Rizuad "a stupid witness".
Gobind also suggested that Rizuad had no idea and asked him what was the context of Rayer's speech in the State Legislative Assembly. He also suggested that Rizuad had not even taken the trouble to find out.
Rizuad agreed with Gobind that he had no idea of the context but added that he was sure of the words uttered by Rayer during the state assembly meeting.
Rayer faces sedition charges over his alleged anti-Umno remarks at the state assembly sitting in 2014.
He allegedly committed the offence at the Penang State Assembly at 9.19am on May 20, 2014.
Sessions Court judge Ibrahim Osman fixed June 27 as the next date of the trial.
The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Lim Cheah Yit.
Meanwhile in the same court, Tanjung MP Ng Wei Aik's sedition case has been set for decision on May 19.
Ibrahim set the date after the case is brought for mention today.
Ng had been charged with allegedly making seditious remarks about Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in his regular column in Kwong Wah Yit Poh on Feb 10, 2015.
The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Lim Cheah Yit while Ng was represented by Gobind.