2 DAP MPs not guilty of street demo

KUCHING: The Sessions Court here today found two DAP members of parliament not guilty of of involvement in an illegal street demonstration, two years ago.
Bandar Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jen and Stampin MP Julian Tan were accused of committing the offence on Aug 29, 2015.
Judge Steve Ritikos in his ruling said the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the duo.
He said based on the evidence presented to the court, Chong and Tan were at Kuching Hilton to park their respective vehicles before walking to Padang Song Kheng Hai (venue which had been approved) to join Bersih 4.0.
In that regard, the two could not be accused of participating in an illegal street demonstration," said the judge.
Chong who is also Sarawak DAP chairman and Padungan assemblyman, and Tan were charged under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.
The charge carries a fine of up to RM10,000 on conviction, and had they been found guilty and fined RM2,000 or more, the MPs would have lost their seats and disqualified from contesting as candidates in the election for five years.
During the trial, the prosecution called seven witnesses. Chong and Tan were represented by defence counsel Gobind Singh Deo. — Bernama