Lawyer Paulsen and PSM’s Arutchelvan freed of sedition

KUALA LUMPUR: Human rights lawyer Eric Paulsen and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) central committee member S. Arutchelvan were freed by the Sessions Court here from sedition charges.

Judge Edwin Paramjothy Michael Muniandy made the order after DPP Norinna Bahadun informed the court yesterday that the prosecution did not wish to proceed with the charges.

“We would like to withdraw the charges against the two,” said DPP Norinna.

The court then acquitted and discharged Paulsen and Arutchelvan.

Paulsen was charged over a tweet in which he allegedly accused the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) of promoting extremism.

He was accused of publishing seditious words on twitter.com/ericpaulsen101, stating that “Jakim is promoting extremism every Friday. Government needs to address that if serious about extremism in Malaysia”.

The offence was allegedly committed at the D5 criminal investigation unit, Bukit Aman here, at about 8pm on Jan 10, 2015.

Paulsen was charged under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act.

Arutchelvan was charged with criticising the Federal Court’s decision in a Facebook post following Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy conviction on Feb 10, 2015, while acting as PSM’s secretary-general.

He was accused under Section 4(1)(b) of the Act.

Counsel Latheefa Koya appeared for Paulsen while New Sin Yew for Arutchelvan.

Met after the acquittal, Paulsen said the Act was a colonial law and there was no need for it at present times.