KUALA LUMPUR, 31 March 2009: Subang Member of Parliament K Sivarasa and seven others who participated in the “People’s Freedom Walk” unlawful assembly in December 2007 were detained after they ignored a police order to disperse, the Sessions Court was told today.
A prosecution witness, DSP Rotzarn Rashid, said they not only ignored the order to disperse, but also continued to be in the unlawful assembly until the Bar Council building at Jalan Lebuh Pasar Besar here.
Sivarasa, a lawyer, is charged with three other lawyers — Amer Hamzah Arshad, Latheefa Beebi Koya and N. Surendran — as well as four activists, with taking part in the illegal assembly in front of the Kamdar building at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman here between 8.10am and 8.50am on 9 Dec 2007, and failing to abide by a police order to disperse.
The four activists are Eric Paulsen, Johny Andu @ Abu Bakar Adnan, Nooraza Othman and Ashraf Ali Sadakathullah.
All of them had pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Another witness, ASP Nasri Mansor, told the court that the “People’s Freedom Walk” was not organised by the Bar Council.
“Initially, it was organised by the Bar Council, but on 5 Dec 2007, its president issued a statement that the walk, which was to be held on 9 Dec 2007, was cancelled,” he added.
Hearing before judge SM Komathy Suppiah continues on 10 April. — Bernama
