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PETALING JAYA: Controversial blogger Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, better known as Papagomo, was acquitted and discharged by the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Wednesday (Sept 3) of a charge of uttering seditious words linking the government to Israel and the West two years ago.
Judge Siti Aminah Ghazali delivered the ruling after finding that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against Wan Muhammad Azri, 42, Sinar Harian reported.
On Jan 8, 2024, the blogger, who preferred to be known as Sir Azri, was accused of making the remarks on Facebook under the name Halid Hamidi (Halid Mat Kool) at 1pm on Nov 8, 2023.
The statement was later viewed by a 42-year-old man at a condominium unit in Jalan Tong Shin, Bukit Bintang.
The charge was framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948, punishable under Section 4(1) of the same Act, which carries a fine of up to RM5,000, a maximum three-year jail term, or both, upon conviction.
Nine prosecution witnesses were called to testify against Wan Muhammad Azri.
The case was led by deputy public prosecutors Mohamad Mustaffa P Kunyalan and Deepa Nair Thevaharan, while lawyers Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali and Logen Eskander represented the accused.
