KOTA KINABALU, Sept 4 — Three of the four volunteers of the Sabah Sarawak Keluar Malaysia (SSKM) movement charged for sedition here have applied today to have their case heard before the High Court.
In affidavits filed today, Jemmy Liku Markus Ratu, 32, Erick Jack William, 28, and Azrie Situ, 24 applied to move their case out of the Sessions Court on grounds that the higher court is better suited to deal with the complexity of their case as it involves international law, the Federal Constitution and its impact on domestic statutes.
“Accordingly, the Applicants have been advised and aver that such complex legal arguments are matters which are best heard and determined by the High Court,” read Jemmy’s affidavit, filed by his counsel Tengku Fuad Ahmad.
A fourth defendant, Joseph Kolis, 29, will file the same application at a later date.
The hearing for the application is scheduled for October 1 before High Court Judge Datuk Nurchaya Arshad.
The four were charged under Section 4 (2) of the Sedition Act 1948 for being in possession of pamphlets allegedly propagating Sabah’s secession from the federation.
The four were accused of distributing the pamphlets at the Tuaran open market at around 10am on February 1 this year.
The pamphlets, which bore SSKM’s unofficial logo, claimed to promote the rights of North Borneo, and said the movement hopes to collect 100,000 signatures for a petition to be sent to the United Nations to show that Sabahans are no longer interested in being a part of the Malaysian federation.
All four pleaded not guilty to the charge which carries a maximum fine of RM2,000, up to 18 months’ jail or both upon conviction.
Source: The Malay Online
