Sensible to drop sedition charge against me, says Azmi Sharom

Associate Professor Dr Azmi Sharom says he will not comment on the decision to drop a sedition charge against him until he is notified officially. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, February 12, 2016.Grateful that the attorney-general has dropped the sedition charge against him, law lecturer Associate Professor Dr Azmi Sharom said he was glad that common sense has prevailed.

The Universiti Malaya lecturer, however, said he could not comment further, as he just heard the news. 

“I’m grateful to my family, friends and my lawyer, and the decision (to drop the charge) by A-G is common sense.

“But I cannot comment any further because the decision is not official yet, there is no black and white. Need to go to court for the prosecution to be cancelled and I have yet to receive any letter from A-G, so I think it is improper for me to comment,” he said when contacted by The Malaysian Insider. 

The Attorney-General’s Chambers today issued a three-paragraph statement saying that Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali has decided to drop the charge against Azmi.

Apandi said the decision was made after reviewing evidence from all prosecution witnesses who testified in court. 

Apandi also said in carrying out its function under the law, the practice of reviewing criminal cases charged in court had and would continue. 

He said such action was conducted in the past in the case of DAP vice-chairman Teresa Kok.

On September 2, 2014, Azmi was charged under Section 4(1) (b) and Section 4 (1) (c) of the Sedition Act over his comments in an article titled “Take Perak crisis route for speedy end to Selangor impasse, Pakatan told” published in a news portal. – February 12, 2016.