KUALA LUMPUR: Bersatu information committee member Badrul Hisham Shaharin, better known as Chegubard, has claimed trial at the Sessions Court here to two charges of sedition and defamation involving the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Badrul, 45, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to him before Sessions judge Siti Aminah Ghazali on Monday (April 29).
According to the first charge sheet, Badrul Hisham was accused of publishing a seditious statement on his Facebook account at Taman Bukit Cheras here at 12.15pm on April 6.
The charge, under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948, punishable under subsection 4(1) of the same Act, carries a maximum RM5,000 fine or imprisonment of up to three years, or both, if convicted.
He was also accused of publishing a defamatory statement whereby he had reasons to believe that the statement could damage the good name of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong.
The offence was allegedly committed at the office of the Comptroller of the Royal Household, Istana Negara here at 6pm on Jan 22.
The offence under Section 500 of the Penal Code carries a maximum two years' imprisonment, or fine, or both, if convicted.
Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Syed Faisal Syed Amir offered bail at RM20,000 in one surety for each charge on the grounds that the offences involved the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong.
"The prosecution is also seeking a gag order for parties not to comment or make public statements on any social media platform until the disposal of the case.
"This order is necessary to ensure the case won't be disrupted and to uphold public harmony, as well as to avoid provocative statements that could worsen the situation," he said.
Lawyer Rafique Rashid Ali, who represented the accused, sought lower bail as his client had a wife and four children to support.
He said the RM20,000 proposed by the DPP was much higher than the fine under the legal provision, which was RM5,000.
Rafique also objected to the prosecution's request for a gag order.
"It is unconstitutional (to impose a gag order) because the rakyat needs freedom of speech.
"The prosecution also did not specify the gag order it sought," he added.
The court allowed bail at RM10,000 in one surety for each offence and dismissed the application for a gag order.
The case is fixed for mention on May 27.
