Appeals court upholds RM10,000 fine for ex-student over UM convo protest
Court says the charge against Wong Yan Ke was valid and the prosecution proved all elements of the offence beyond reasonable doubt.
The Court of Appeal in Malaysia has upheld the conviction and a RM10,000 fine imposed on activist Wong Yan Ke for allegedly insulting the former Universiti Malaya vice-chancellor and convocation attendees during a protest in 2019. The three-judge bench, led by Justice Noorin Badaruddin, dismissed Wong's appeal against his conviction and sentence under Section 504 of the Penal Code.
The court found the charge valid, the prosecution proved all elements of the offence, and there was no miscarriage of justice. Justice Noorin emphasized that the court does not punish individuals for holding differing views, but rather for conduct that exceeds legal limits. She stressed the importance of freedom of speech while accepting the responsibilities that come with that right.
Wong, 29, had initially been fined RM5,000 and later ordered to pay an additional RM5,000, totaling RM10,000, after pleading guilty in a Kuala Lumpur magistrates' court in October 2023.
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- Appeals court upholds RM10,000 fine for ex-student over UM convo protest freemalaysiatoday.com
