Anwar fails to strike out charges against him in Bersih 3.0 case

(The Star) – Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Friday failed in his bid to strike out charges against him for allegedly violating a court order by taking part in the Bersih 3.0 rally.

Sessions Court judge Mahmud Abdullah allowed a preliminary objection by the prosecution against the striking out application by Anwar.

In his ruling Friday, he held that the Sessions Court had no jurisdiction to revise or review or make any declaration that the prohibitory order issued by Magistrate Zaki Ashraf Zubir prohibiting any assembly at Dataran Merdeka was invalid.

“The Subordinate Courts Act does not give revisionary and declaratory jurisdiction to the Sessions Court. The Sessions Court is bound by the Act,” he said.

Anwar’s lawyer Ramkarpal Singh said that he would appeal against the court ruling and file his notice of appeal at the High Court by Monday.

Ramkarpal said that Anwar’s application challenging the constitutionality of the charge under Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 was set to continue to be heard at the High Court on Jan 11.

The court then set Feb 28 for mention.