PKR’s Yuneswaran declines bail as sign of protest

JOHOR BARU: The Sessions Court here has fined state PKR executive secretary R. Yuneswaran RM6,000 and in default three months jail for violating the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.

Sessions court judge Muhammad Jamil Hussin made the decision at the Johor Baru court here on Sept 26.

Yuneswaran, who is the first person in the country to be charged under the act, has however, declined to settle the fine as a sign of protest against the court’s decision.

Speaking on his behalf, Yunes-waran’s lawyers Jimmy Puah and Hassan Abdul Karim told reporters that their client had specifically instructed for them to refrain from settling his bail.

“This is his decision for today but he may change his mind in the days to come,” said Puah when speaking to reporters outside court.

Puah added that he would also be filing an appeal on the decision to the high court.

Yuneswaran 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.

He had in fact submitted the form and signed on behalf of Johor PKR chief Chua Jui Meng on the morning of May 15. The offence, classified under Section 9(1) of the Act allows for a maximum fine of RM10,000 upon conviction.

During trial, Yuneswaran’s lawyers argued that he was in fact not the organiser of the rally but had only submitted a form for permission to hold the rally on behalf of Chua.

The court however later ruled that Yuneswaran acted in the capacity of an organiser by filing and signing the form, making calls to the police and also disseminating information on the rally via his Twitter and Facebook pages.

Johor prosecution unit head Umar Saifuddin and deputy public prosecutor Jasmee Hameeza Jaafar prosecuted the case. While several state Opposition members were present in court to show their support for Yuneswaran, Chua himself did not make an appearance.