Balloon girl free after prosecution dropped appeal against acquittal
KUALA LUMPUR: The prosecution in the case of ‘Balloon Girl’ Bilqis Hijjas, who was acquitted and discharged for “insulting behaviour” through the dropping of yellow balloons at a 2015 event attended by former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife, has dropped its appeal against the acquittal.
Deputy public prosecutor Nur Hafiza Rajuni, who prosecuted, told the High Court yesterday that the prosecution was withdrawing its appeal against a Magistrate’s Court’s decision on Nov 27, 2017, in acquitting and discharging the woman, who is also a dance teacher, of the charge.
“Today’s proceeding is supposed to hear the appeal by the prosecution, but there is a new development, where the appellant does not intent to proceed with the appeal.
“Therefore, I request to withdraw the appeal, she said in the proceeding before High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali today.
The court then dismissed the prosecution’s appeal.
On July 1, 2016, the Magistrate’s Court discharged and acquitted Bilqis on a charge of behaving in an insulting manner by releasing yellow balloons at an event attended by the prime minister and his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.
Bilqis was freed without calling for her defence after the prosecution failed to prove a prima facie case against her at the end of the prosecution’s case.
However, the High Court, on Oct 3, 2016, allowed the prosecution’s appeal and ordered the dance producer to enter her defence after ruling that the magistrate had erred in his findings in acquitting Bilqis, but the Magistrate’s Court again acquitted her of the charge.
Bilqis, the daughter of wellknown Malaysian architect Hijjas Kasturi, was charged on Sept 23, 2015, with the offence of dropping yellow balloons from level 5 of the Pavilion shopping mall in Jalan Bukit Bintang, here at 3.15pm during an event on Aug 31, 2015.
She was charged under Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955 and could have been fined a maximum of RM100.
On Aug 31, 2015, which was the National Day, seven yellow balloons were released from the fifth floor at the mall while Najib and Rosmah were present for the opening of the DiverseCity 2015: Kuala Lumpur International Arts Festival.
The yellow balloons carrying the words ‘Democracy’, ‘Free media’ and ‘Justice’ printed in black fell behind the screen on the second floor. - Bernama