SHAH ALAM: PKR’s Sri Muda assemblyman Shuhaimi Shafiei pleaded not guilty on Monday after he was charged at the Sessions Court with sedition over a blog posting on Dec 30.
If found guilty, Shuhaimi, 42, faces a maximum sentence of three years in jail or a maximum fine of RM5,000, or both under section 4(1) of theSedition Act 1948.
He risks losing his seat if he is convicted and fined more than RM2,000 or jailed for more than two years.
DPP Hanafiah Zakaria proposed bail at RM20,000 saying that the offence was very serious.
Judge Latifah Mohd Tahar fixed bail at RM8,000 in one surety and set March 28 for mention.
The court was packed with supporters and newsmen. Many police reports were lodged against him with the Selangor Anti-Fraud Coalition and Malay rights group Perkasa condemning him for his bog posting on Dec 30.
Shuhaimi was arrested on Thursday when he went to the Shah Alam police headquarters to give a statement, and released on police bail.
Lawyers Amir Hamzah and Edmond Bon are among those on his defence team. Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim’s media secretariat issued a statement recently saying that the state would help Shuhaimi with his legal expenses.
