‘Blackout 505’ rally participation: MP acquitted of charge

KUALA LUMPUR: Hang Tuah Jaya Member of Parliament Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin was acquitted by the Sessions Court here yesterday on a charge of participating in the ‘ Blackout 505’ rally on the grounds of University of Malaya’s Ar-Rahman Mosque five years ago.

Judge Datuk Zainal Abidin Kamarudin released Shamsul Iskandar after the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt against him at the end of the defence case.

Shamsul Iskandar, 43, who is also PKR vice-president, was charged with participating in the rally, held in a restricted area at the compound of University of Malaysia’s Ar-Rahman Mosque between 12pm and 1.15pm on June 22, 2013.

The charge under Section 4(2)( b) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 and punishable under Section 4( 3) of the same act carries a maximum fine of RM10,000.

Prosecution was handled by deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Mustaffa P.Kunyalam while Shamsul Iskandar was represented by lawyer Mohd Haijan Omar.

About 30 supporters and friends of Shamsul Iskandar who were sitting in the public gallery cheered, ‘Alhamdulillah’ after the judge read out the decision.

Five prosecution witnesses and 14 defence witnesses were called to testify in the trial which began on Dec 11, 2013.

On April 13, five people, including activist Adam Adly Abd Halim were acquitted by the same Sessions Court on a similar charge. — Bernama