Court lifts gag order on 15 charged with Lynas rioting

KUANTAN: The High Court lifted a gag order imposed on the 15 participants who took part in a protest against the Lynas rare earth plant in June.

In allowing the appeal by the 15 accused, Justice Ab Karim Ab Rahman ruled that the bail condition prohibiting them to discuss court proceedings with a third party was unreasonable.

Justice Ab Karim said any imposition of conditions must be in line with the bail's purpose.

"The condition that gags the accused from making comments is not the meaning of the bail to make sure they appear in court. It is unreasonable and therefore I allow the appeal and cancel the condition," said the judge.

The 15 had appealed against a decision of a Sessions Court that set the gag order condition when it allowed bail.

Himpunan Hijau leader Wong Tack and nine others were charged under Section 145 of the Penal Code while five others were charged with allegedly using force to breach a police barricade.

They were accused of unlawful assembly and rioting at the entrance of the refinery in Gebeng here on June 22.