Bilqis to return to court as govt appeals against acquittal

Public prosecutor's notice of appeal to the Registrar of KL subordinates court reveals government is dissatisfied with her acquittal.

BILQIS-BALLOON 2

PETALING JAYA: Dance producer Bilqis Hijjas’s hopes that the government will not appeal against her acquittal for dropping yellow balloons at an event attended by Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife have been proven wrong.

Her lawyer, Latheefa Koya, said Bilqis had been served with a copy of the public prosecutor’s notice of appeal to the High Court.

“We were only informed about it today,” Latheefa said, adding that it was unclear when Bilqis received the notice.

A copy of the notice revealed it was received by the Registrar of the Kuala Lumpur subordinates court on Dec 6 on grounds that the government was dissatisfied with the acquittal at the close of the defence case.

The offence carries a fine of not more than RM100 upon conviction.

On Nov 27, the 38-year-old daughter of prominent architect Hijjas Kasturi, was freed of committing the offence at a shopping mall two years ago.

In clearing her of the charge, magistrate Muhammad Faizal Ismail said the defence had created doubts over the prosecution’s case.

He said Bilqis’ claim that she only dropped the balloons to attract Najib’s attention to uphold constitutional principles was never challenged by the prosecution.

“Evidence by prosecution witnesses that they (guests who attended the event) would be angry with her (Bilqis) and that there would be disruption were mere assumptions,” he said.

Faizal said Bilqis, the only defence witness, gave evidence that was consistent with testimonies by security personnel and the images captured on CCTV.

He said there was also no resistance from her when she was apprehended by security officials and the event proceeded smoothly.

Bilqis was accused of dropping the balloons from the fifth floor of the Pavilion shopping mall in Bukit Bintang on Aug 31 while Najib and Rosmah Mansor were attending the Diverse­City 2015 Kuala Lumpur International Arts Festival on the ground floor.

The dropping of the balloons, carrying the words “Democracy”, “Free Media” and “Justice”, followed the Bersih 4 rally which had taken place a day earlier.

Bilqis was charged under the Minor Offences Act 1955 for behaving in an insulting manner with the purpose of stirring anger which would likely cause a disturbance.

After the acquittal, an elated Bilqis had said she hoped the government would not appeal the decision.

“This is a spurious charge and the court verdict shows symbolic resistance is allowed.”


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Sumber Bilqis to return to court as govt appeals against acquittal

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