High Court reverses dancer Bilqis’ acquittal
KUALA LUMPUR: Dancer Bilqis Hijjas (pix), who was previously acquitted of a charge of behaving in an insulting manner by releasing yellow balloons at an event attended by the prime minister and his wife, was ordered to enter her defence by the High Court.
Judge Datuk Indera Mohd Sophian Tan Sri Abdul Razak, who heard an appeal by the prosecution against her acquittal, reversed the magistrate’s court decision yesterday.
He found that the magistrate had erred in his decision and said that the prosecution had succeeded in proving a prima facie case.
Bilqis, 38, had claimed trial to the charge under Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955, which carries a maximum fine of RM100.
The offence was committed at level 5 of the Pavilion shopping centre in Jalan Bukit Bintang at about 3.15pm on Aug 31, 2015.
Lawyer Eric Paulsen represented Bilqis while deputy public prosecutor Nabilah Ahmad Po’ad prosecuted.
On Aug 31, 2015, which was National Day, seven yellow balloons were released from Level 5 of the shopping mall when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor were watching a dance performance at the opening of “DiverseCity 2015: Kuala Lumpur International Arts Festival”.
The balloons with words like “Democracy”, “Free media” and “Justice” printed in black, fell behind the screen at Level 2.