KUALA LUMPUR: Lawyer and activist Siti Zabedah Kassim today claimed trial at the magistrate's court to a charge of obstructing an officer from the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) from carrying out her public function, more than one year ago.
Siti, 54, is alleged to have committed the offence by stopping Jawi's enforcement officer Siti Nor Jihan Saleh@ Md Ghazali, 36, from carrying out her duties at the Ballroom of the Renaissance Hotel at 10.30pm on April 3, 2016.
Deputy public prosecutor Siti Hajar Mohd Ashif told the court that the prosecution was not offering bail for Siti because the offence is a non-bailable one.
Counsel Roger Chan said Siti is a member of the Malaysian Bar Council, a lawyer and activist who plays an important role in society.
"She is not a flight risk and will be able to come to court for her trial. I hope the court will be able to impose a bail without collateral," he said.
Co-counsel Rajsurian Pillai also told the court that the incident which Siti was charged for happened in 2016.
Magistrate Ahmad Solihin Abd Wahid set bail at RM3,000 in one surety and fixed Aug 22 for mention.
It was reported that Siti was investigated by police for criminal intimidation and obstruction of public servants after she defended transwomen from arrest during a dinner at a local hotel which was raided by Jawi.
Jawi had raided the private fundraising event by the transgender community at the local hotel.