SHAH ALAM: The sedition case involving Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor will now be heard at the High Court here.
This follows a decision by High Court judge Justice Aslam Zainuddin, who allowed Muhammad Sanusi's case to be transferred from the Selayang Sessions Court, where the latter was first charged.
Justice Aslam, who made the ruling on Thursday (Feb 1), said the court had gone through the submissions in the application.
ALSO READ: Muhammad Sanusi applies to transfer sedition case to High Court
"After examining the written submissions, supporting affidavits, the notice of motion and oral submissions by both parties, this court allows the applicant's bid to transfer the case to the High Court," he said.
Muhammad Sanusi is facing two counts of sedition under the Sedition Act 1948 over a political speech on July 11.
For the first charge, he was accused of uttering a seditious statement that could incite disloyalty to the Rulers.
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Muhammad Sanusi was also accused of a similar second charge where the impugned statement in the charge referred to his speech that questioned Prime Minister's Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's statement on the Royal Decree and the establishment of the unity government.
Both offences were allegedly committed at Simpang 4, Taman Selayang Mutiara, at 11pm on July 11.
ALSO READ: Prosecution objects to Sanusi's bid to transfer sedition trial to High Court
The charge under Section 4(1)(a) of the Sedition Act 1948 carries a maximum fine of RM5,000 or imprisonment of up to three years or both, if convicted.
Muhammad Sanusi filed the application to transfer the case on Jan 15.
The application was filed on the grounds that the accused would not get a fair trial if the hearing was done at a lower court, among others.
The prosecution objected to the application, saying that the subject matter was not a complicated issue and the hearing dates were already fixed at the Selayang Sessions Court.