Chegubard says will be charged with sedition in JB on Tuesday

KUALA LUMPUR: Bersatu information committee member Badrul Hisham Shaharin, better known as Chegubard, says he will be charged under the Sedition Act at the Johor Baru Session Court on Tuesday (April 30).

Badrul said, at a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur court complex, that he had been informed that he would charged over his Facebook post regarding the purported opening of a casino in Forest City in Johor.

Earlier, he had 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.