'Balloon girl' Bilqis Hijjas freed of insulting behaviour charge

KUALA LUMPUR: The Magistrate's Court, here, today acquitted and discharged dancer Bilqis Hijjas of a charge of behaving in an insulting manner by releasing yellow balloons at an event attended by the prime minister and his wife in August last year.
Magistrate Mohd Faizal Ismail freed Bilqis, 37, of the charge without calling for her defence after the prosecution failed to prove a prima facie case against her at the end of the prosecution's case.
"After studying the testimonies and submissions of the prosecution and defence, as well as making maximum evaluation, the court has decided that the accused be acquitted and discharged."
"The court believes that elements like insulting, arousing anger and that peace might be disturbed failed to be proven by the prosecution," said Mohd Faizal.
He said offences under this Act (Minor Offences Act 1955) were generally seldom brought to court until a full trial because usually, the accused would plead guilty and pay the fine.
"However, the court is of the opinion that it is not impossible for such cases nowadays to be brought to a full trial.
"As such cases seldom occur, the court needs to be careful in making a decision, besides the absence of cases for reference involving such offences," he added.
Eight prosecution witnesses testified during the trial after Bilqis had allegedly behaved in an insulting manner aimed at causing anger which could disturb the peace.
Last Sept 23, she was charged with the offence by dropping yellow balloons from Level 5 of Kuala Lumpur Pavilion shopping mall in Jalan Bukit Bintang at 3.15 pm at an event on Aug 31, 2015.
The daughter of well-known Malaysian architect Hijjas Kasturi, Bilqis was charged under Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955 and could be fined a maximum of RM100. The trial ran between last Feb 24 and June 2.
DPP Norakmal Farhan Aziz appeared for the prosecution, while lawyer Eric Paulsen represented Bilqis who was seen smiling upon hearing the court's verdict today.
On Aug 31, last year which was National Day, seven yellow balloons were released from Level 5 of the shopping mall when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor were watching a dance performance at the opening of DiverseCity 2015: Kuala Lumpur International Arts Festival.
The balloons with words like 'Democracy', 'Free media' and 'Justice' printed in black, fello behind the screen at Level 2. — Bernama