The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) has filed a notice of appeal with the Kuala Lumpur High Court against the sessions court’s acquittal of Bersatu’s Badrul Hisham Shaharin, also known as Chegubard, on a charge of defaming the king.
In a statement, the AGC said it submitted the notice of appeal after considering the grounds of sessions court judge Norma Ismail’s decision earlier today.
“The charge against Badrul was framed under Section 500 of the Penal Code for the offence of making slanderous statements against the king, where the accused had reason to believe his statements would tarnish the good name of the king,” it said.
The charge of criminal defamation is punishable by up to two years in prison, a fine, or both upon conviction.
The Kuala Lumpur sessions court had acquitted Badrul of defaming the king after ruling that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against the Port Dickson Bersatu chief.
Badrul was charged in April last year with committing the offence at Istana Negara at 6pm on Jan 22, 2024.
