Seven Malaysian and Indonesians Charged for participating 'Bersih' in Brunei Darussalam
Seven Malaysian and Indonesian nationals were charged under the Public Order Act in the Magistrate's Court yesterday with co-organising and taking part in an illegal public gathering called the 'Bersih' assembly.
The defendants, Malaysians Chong Wee Siong, 34, Victor Ng Kah Kien, 35, Goo Yee Ming, 32, Chai Ka Vui, 30, Lee Wai Yee, 31 and Indonesians Asep Mamad, 31, and Dede Irpan, 25, face a charge of taking part in an unlawful assembly of 11 people which allegedly took place on August 29 in the vicinity of Jame' 'Asr Hassanil Bolkiah in Kampong Kiarong.
Three other Malaysian nationals were charged with the same offence earlier this month. Choo Chor Hiang is accussed of co-organising and taking part in the unlawful assembly of 11 people along with Seyu Ah Ling and Chan Mee Eng.
The trial in their case has been fixed to run from April 18-23, 2016 after they denied the charges. One alleged participant of the assembly is still at large. Meanwhile, DPP Shamshuddin bin Haji Kamaluddin who is conducting the prosecution of these cases, yesterday informed the court of his intention to apply for consolidation of the cases with defendants now totalling to 10 people.
Magistrate Pengiran Shahyzul bin Pengiran Abdul Rahman fixed the case to be heard again on March 14, 2016 to consider the application.
All the defendants brought to court yesterday denied the charge except for Victor and Goo whose pleas will be recorded during the next mention of the case. Defendants in both cases are represented by lawyers Rozaiman Abdul Rahman and Rudi Lee.
Choo faces a penalty of a $5,000 fine and three year imprisonment for the first charge.
Choo and the nine other defendants face a penalty of BND$1,000 fine and one year imprisonment for the second charge.
The case is linked to an incident where pictures were forwarded through social media, showing men and women wearing yellow shirts, with a distinctive Bruneian landmark in the background.
The WhatsApp messages were forwarded in the wake of a political campaign against the leader of a neighbouring country.
