KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 — The Sessions Court here today ordered blogger Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, better known as Papagomo, to enter his defence on a charge of making seditious statements intended to incite hatred against His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia.
Judge Norma Ismail made the ruling after finding that the prosecution, represented by Deputy Public Prosecutor Nursyuhada Husna Sulaiman, had successfully established a prima facie case against Wan Muhammad Azri.
Lawyer Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali informed the court that the defence would call a single witness, namely the accused himself, during the proceedings.
Norma then set Nov 4 for Wan Muhammad Azri to testify in court.
On May 2, 2024, Wan Muhammad Azri, a former UMNO Youth exco member, pleaded not guilty to posting a seditious statement on his X account regarding Sultan Ibrahim’s audience with the owner of KK Supermart & Superstore Sdn Bhd.
He was charged under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948, which carries a maximum fine of RM5,000 or imprisonment of up to three years, or both, if convicted.
The trial, which began in October last year, heard testimony from nine prosecution witnesses. — Bernama
