JOHOR BARU: The Johor High Court has set Monday to decide on the gag order imposed on Bersatu information committee member Badrul Hisham Shaharin.
The order prohibits Badrul Hisham, better known as Chegubard, from making any comment on his ongoing criminal defamation case related to an alleged potential casino in Forest City.
Judge Datuk Abu Bakar Katar made his decision after hearing arguments from the prosecution and defence lawyers during today's judicial review application.
The application came after the Sessions Court rejected the prosecution's plea for a restraining order against Badrul Hisham on April 30.
The prosecution team, led by Kuala Lumpur prosecution director Datin Kalmizah Salleh and senior deputy public prosecutors Mohd Sabri Othman and Abdul Malik Ayob, and supported by deputy public prosecutors Nurilya Ellyna Nor Azmal and Mohd Syafiq Mohd Ghazali, emphasised the gravity of the situation resulting from the Sessions Court's ruling.
"It is imperative to prevent serious injustices from occurring," Kalmizah said. "Dragging the Yang di-Pertuan Agong into such a situation is highly inappropriate."
However, Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali, who represented Badrul Hisham, argued against the restraining order, pointing out that the original article concerning the casino issue remained accessible and had not been taken down by the international media outlets.
"The prosecution retains the authority to initiate contempt proceedings should my client commit any offence," he said.
Abu Bakar scheduled May 20 for the final decision, which will determine whether to uphold the Sessions Court's ruling or overturn it and issue a restraining order.
On April 29, Chegubard, pleaded not guilty to two charges of making seditious remarks and defaming Sultan Ibrahim.
The charges alleged that the 45-year-old Perikatan Nasional politician made defamatory statements with the intent to harm the reputation of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.