KUALA LUMPUR: Kijal state assemblyman Datuk Razali Idris has withdrawn his appeal against the Sessions Court's decision to impose a RM2,000 fine after he was found guilty of making inflammatory statements during a speech at the Kemaman By-Election Machinery Launch Ceremony three years ago.
Lawyer Shahril Nizam Mohd Amin, who represented Razali, informed High Court judge Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid that his party had received further instructions from his client (Razali) to withdraw the notice of appeal filed on Jan 5.
Judge Azhar asked whether the appellant was aware that if the court withdrew the notice of appeal, his conviction would remain and Shahril Nizam replied: "That's right, Your Honour, my client is aware of that."
Deputy Public Prosecutor Wan Ahmad Hijrah Wan Abdullah told the court that the prosecution did not object to the withdrawal of the appeal.
Azhar then withdrew the notice of appeal.
On Jan 5, the Sessions Court here imposed a fine of RM2,000 on Razali and ordered him to serve three months in prison if he fails to pay the fine.
However, Razali, who is also the chairman of the Terengganu Tourism, Culture, Environment and Climate Change Committee, has already paid the fine.
On Nov 24, 2023, Razali, who is also the former Bersatu information chief, requested to be tried on a charge of using seditious words when claiming that the decision of a court case was controlled by the government.
He was charged with committing the offence at Padang Astaka Chukai, Kemaman, Terengganu between 9.30pm and 11.30pm on Nov 10, 2023 under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948 which carries a maximum sentence of three years imprisonment or a fine of RM5,000 or both. - Bernama
