Hishamuddin Rais’ jail term overturned by Appeals Court

PETALING JAYA: Local activist Hishamuddin Rais’ (pic) nine-month jail term for sedition was overturned by the Court of Appeal on Monday.

In overturning the High Court’s decision earlier this year, a three-member panel led by judge Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat retained the RM5,000 fine imposed on the accused.

The High Court had sentenced Hishamuddin to nine months jail and RM5,000 fine with a stay of execution in January this year after allowing the prosecution's appeal for a more deterrent sentence, following the six month jail term imposed a year earlier.

He and five others were charged with uttering seditious remarks at a public forum shortly after the general election on May 5, 2013.