Yuneswaran to stand trial for holding rally

JOHOR BARU: State PKR executive secretary R.Yuneswaran has been ordered to enter his defence by a Sessions Court here for violating the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.

Yuneswaran, 27, was charged for failing to inform the Johor Baru South OCPD 10 days in advance before holding the “Black 505 Rally” in Puteri Wangsa, Ulu Tiram here at around 8.30pm on May 15.

Yuneswaran claimed trial to the offence under Section 9(1) of the Act on May 27.

On Aug 1, Sessions court judge Muhammad Jamil Hussin ruled that the prosecution was successful in proving a prima facie case.

He said that it was proven that Yuneswaran had in fact submitted a notification form pertaining to the rally on May 15 itself and not 10 days prior to the event as required under the act.

Yuneswaran’s lawyers Jimmy Puah and Hassan Abdul Karim argued that Yuneswaran was not the organiser of the event and had submitted the form on behalf of state PKR chairman Datuk Chua Jui Meng.

The court however, ruled that Johor prosecution unit head Umar Saifuddin and Deputy Public Prosecutor Jasmee Hameeza Jaafar had managed to prove that Yuneswaran had not only submitted the form but also publicised the rally via his personal Facebook and Twitter account which suggested that he was involved in organising the event.

Muhammad Jamil then called for Yuneswaran to enter his defence and fixed the next date for Sept 11.

A total of nine witnesses have been called by the prosecution and the defence is expected to call another two witnesses including Chua on Sept 11.

A final decision will be made once the two witnesses have been brought to the stand.

If convicted, Yuneswaran could be slapped with a fine of up to RM10,000 for the offence.

Pakatan Rakyat organised a series of Black 505 Rallies nationwide in protest of alleged electoral fraud the 13th General Election.