Despite his surrender to the police yesterday, Penang state assemblyman for Seri Delima, RSN Rayer of the DAP, will not be charged for sedition today, as was expected.
When queried over the turn of events by The Star Online‘s Christopher Tan and Cavina Lim, Gobind Singh Deo, Rayer’s lawyer and DAP compatriot, said, “We have been informed by the deputy public prosecutor (DPP) that they have received instructions from the Attorney-General Chambers not to press charges yet.”
He added, “Anyway, we have played our part. Rayer has showed up in court today.”
Gobind said he would follow up by writing to the Attorney-General’s Chambers to find out why the prosecution decided not to press charges on his ward.
“We also do not know why. I think the best person to ask is the DPP’s office.”
Rayer himself declined to comment.
Earlier today, Rayer appeared at the Sessions Court in George Tow with his supporters in tow, while police were on standby outside the courthouse.
George Town district police chief ACP Mior Farid Alathrash had said yesterday Rayer would be charged under the Sedition Act at the Sessions Court, for “uttering seditious words at the state legislative assembly”.
The “seditious words” in question are believed to be Rayer’s “celaka UMNO” remark, uttered during a sitting of the state assembly last month, which sparked off a protest outside the state legislative building by enraged UMNO members, 14 of whom stormed the assembly hall seeking to find Rayer. He was not in attendance at the time of the protest.
The 14 men who stormed the assembly were also arrested and are expected to be charged today under Section 448 of the Penal Code for trespassing.
See Also:
Cops to arrest UMNO members who stormed Penang state assembly building
Penang assemblyman who said “celaka UMNO” under arrest for sedition
