Crime & Courts

[UPDATED] Court sets Dec 10 for A-GC's decision on Sanusi's sedition case

SHAH ALAM: The Attorney-General's Chambers (A-GC) has yet to decide on the Kedah Menteri Besar's representation to drop his two sedition charges linked to his alleged seditious remarks against the Sultan of Selangor and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

This prompted High Court judge Datuk Aslam Zainuddin to set Dec 10 as the final date for the A-GC to deliver its decision on the representation of Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor.

The representation is linked to the 50-year-old Perikatan Nasional leader's alleged seditious remarks against the Rulers last year.

This came after deputy public prosecutor Datuk Masri Daud informed the court that the A-GC was still reviewing Sanusi's representation.

"Today is fixed for the decision of the accused's representation.

"I was informed that we are still reviewing the representation.

"In short, we do not have a decision yet. I propose the fixing of Dec 10 as the new mention date for us to obtain the decision of the representation and the fixing of trial dates," he said.

To this, Sanusi's lawyer Hasshahari Johari Nawi agreed with Dec 10.

"For the court's record, the representation sent was for both charges. As confirmed earlier, our initial intention is not to prolong this matter and to fix the trial dates.

"But because of this latest development, we are agreeable to Dec 10," he said.

However, Aslam said he would not set the trial dates yet pending a decision from the A-GC.

"If there is a decision that favours the defence, then there is no need for me to log in the dates (trial).

"I will fix Dec 10 and I hope this is the final date and the decision can be obtained," he said.

After proceedings, Sanusi, who exited the courtroom with his lawyers and supporters, looked in high spirits.

He said he could not comment on the case due to a gag order.

Sanusi sought the withdrawal after Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah consented to accept his apologies for his remarks that could incite disloyalty towards rulers.

In previous proceedings, deputy public prosecutor Abdul Malik Ayob told the court that the A-GC was still considering Sanusi's representation.

It was Sanusi's second representation after his first was rejected by the A-GC in May, and both sought the dismissal of two sedition charges of uttering seditious remarks against the Rulers.

On July 18 last year, Sanusi pleaded guilty at the Selayang Sessions Court to two counts of uttering seditious remarks that could incite disloyalty towards the Rulers.

He was alleged to have uttered seditious and insulting remarks about Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah near Taman Selayang Mutiara at about 11pm on July 11.

He was also charged with making the same offence when he allegedly uttered seditious remarks questioning Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's statement on the King's decree on the establishment of the unity government.

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