PSM 23 charged under Societies Act and ISA
They are accused of being in possession of Bersih pamphlets and subversive documents.
(Free Malaysia Today) – Twenty-three members of Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) were charged in the magistrate’s court today with possession of 600 photocopies of Bersih pamphlets and subversive documents.
The accused ranged in age from 17 to 64. They were granted bail of RM4,000 for each of the two charges. Thirteen posted bail today and the others are expected to do so tomorrow. But police released all of them.
Pertaining to the Bersih pamphlets, they were charged under Section 48(1) of the Societies Act or alternatively Section 43 of the act. Section 48(1) carries a jail sentence not exceeding five years or a fine not above RM15,000 or both. Section 43 carries a jail term not above three years or a maximum fine of RM3,000 or both.
The charge for possession of subversive documents came under the Section 29(1) of the Internal Security Act. It carries a jail sentence of not more than five years or a fine not more than RM10,000 or both.
The prosecution said they committed both offences at Sungai Dua toll plaza of the North-South Expressway at 3.30pm on June 25.
Thirteen of the accused are women and two are boys.
The women are Cheang Sew Yin, 60, Soh Sock Hwa, 29, Chan Mooi, 55, K Kamala Devi, 57, K Deeeba, 22, K Thanusia, 21, G Packialetchumy, 40, R Saroza, 64, R Nalayani, 64, M Santhana Devi, 30, P Indra, 54, P Jody, 52 and M Kavitha, 35.
The boys are J Raveen Veerasenan and S Thivya Kumar, both 17 years old.
The other eight suspects are A Shanmugam, 57, M Ravindran, 20, M Arokiam, 62, G Velaitham, 54, M Sivoosamy, 52, S Ramasamy, 35, Gana Santhanam, 45, and S Selvam, 42.
Another man, S. Murugan, the driver of the bus in which the activists were travelling when they were arrested, was released without any charges.
Another teenager, S Ragu, 16, who was released on police bail on June 26, failed to turn up to face charges today. The prosecution asked the court for another date for his case.
