KUALA LUMPUR: Controversial blogger Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, better known as Papagomo, was acquitted today by the Sessions Court of a charge of making seditious remarks alleging the government was pro-Israel.
His lawyer, Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali, said Judge Siti Aminah Ghazali released his 42-year-old client after ruling that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case.
Rafique said the judge delivered her decision at the end of the prosecution case during proceedings today.
“He has been freed without having to enter his defence as the prosecution failed to prove its case.
“The prosecution has 14 days to file an appeal. We hope that upon reviewing the judgment, the Attorney General and the Attorney General’s Chambers will realise that this charge should never have been brought against him in the first place,” he said in a TikTok video.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamad Mustaffa P. Kunyalam, who appeared alongside Deepa Nair Thevaharan, confirmed the decision and said the prosecution would consider appealing.
The trial began in July last year and heard testimony from nine prosecution witnesses.
In January last year, Muhammad Azri claimed trial to the charge of making seditious remarks on the Facebook page of Halid Hamidi at 1pm on Nov 8, 2023.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
