High Court issues warrant of arrest against Tian Chua

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here yesterday issued a warrant of arrest against Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vicepresident Tian Chua after he failed to be present in court without a valid reason for case management of his appeal.

Tian Chua who is also Batu member of parliament is appealing against his conviction and sentence of three months and RM1,800 fine meted out by the Sessions Court on Sept 28, 2016, after finding him guilty of making a seditious statement while giving a talk four years ago.

Justice Datuk Mohd Sofian Abd Razak who issued the arrest warrant against Tian Chua, or Chua Tian Chang, 54, also set Jan 18, 2018 for the next case management.

“The court on Oct 26 acknowledged to the parties concerned to be present before the judge for the first case management.

“But today (yesterday), the appellate counsel and the appellant are absent. As this is a criminal case, the appellant is required to be present. Because he has failed to be present, the court is issuing a warrant of arrest against the appellant,” said the judge.

Tian Chua committed the offence of sedition at the premises of the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Chamber of Commerce at Jalan Maharajalela, Dang Wangi here between 8.55pm and 11.15pm on May 13, 2013. Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Zain Ibrahim represented the prosecution at the proceeding yesterday. — Bernama