The Kuala Lumpur High Court today sentenced long-time social rights activist Hishamuddin Rais to nine months in prison for sedition, replacing the already-delivered sentence of a RM5,000 fine under the same charge.
The imprisonment was the result of an appeal filed by the prosecution, who wanted a more deterrent sentence than the fine imposed on Hishamuddin last year.
The prison term is not to begin any time soon, however.
“High Court also allowed for stay of execution pending appeal to the Court of Appeal with RM6,000 as bail,” lawyer Syahredzan Johan told The Malay Mail Online‘s Ida Lim today.
Last January 9, the KL Sessions Court found Hishamuddin guilty of violating the Sedition Act 1948 for a speech he delivered in 2013, and fined him RM5,000 upon his conviction.
On May 13 2013, Hishamuddin allegedly incited attendees of a public forum to “overthrow the government” through civil disobedience and street protests.
The forum was held barely a week after the 13th General Elections, which was won by the Barisan Nasional coalition.
Hishamuddin was charged for sedition along with five others who attended and spoke at the forum: politicians Chua Tian Chang, Tamrin Ghafar and activists Adam Adli Abdul Halim, Haris Ibrahim and Muhammad Safwan Anang.
