FORMER student leader Wong Yan Ke has claimed trial for allegedly disobeying a public servant when he was charged this morning at the Petaling Jaya magistrates’ court.

Wong, the former president for University Malaya Association of New Youth (Umany), was charged under Section 188 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum six-month jail sentence or a fine of up to RM2,000 or both upon conviction.

Accompanied by his lawyers, Rajsurian Pillai and Kuhan Manokaran, Wong claimed trial before judge Nurshahira Abdul Salim.

Last Saturday, Wong was arrested for allegedly obstructing a group of police officers by recording them conducting a raid at the home of current Umany president, Yap Wen Qing.

According to the charge sheet, Wong had disobeyed an order from a police officer who demanded him to stop the recording, which was being broadcast live on Facebook.

“On November 7 about 3.30pm, at house number 1345 on Jalan 17/48, Petaling Jaya in Selangor, you had disobeyed an order from ASP Lee Robert, a civil servant who demanded you to stop recording a raid that you uploaded on Facebook.

“Therefore you have committed an offence under Section 188 of the Penal Code,” read the charge.

Deputy public prosecutor Atifah Hazimah Wahab offered bail at RM7,000.

However, the defence argued that the UM graduate was not a flight risk and had cooperated with the investigations.

Justice Nurshahira later fixed bail at RM1,000 with one surety.

The case is set for mention on February 21.

The police are also investigating Umany and its president Yap for sedition over a statement Umany posted on social media

The statement questioned the powers vested in the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, which had prompted Universiti Malaya to file a police report.

Yesterday, Umany apologised to the king and withdrew the statement it published on October 30 on its social media channels. – November 13, 2020.