KUALA LUMPUR – The high court today set March 22 for case management of the prosecution’s appeal against the acquittal by a magistrates’ court of lawyer-cum-activist Siti Kasim from a charge of obstructing a Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) officer from discharging her public duty during an event at a hotel in 2016.
Deputy public prosecutor Izalina Abdullah announced the date after case management today, which was held in chambers before high court senior assistant registrar Farah Azura Mohd Saad.
“The prosecution informed the court that the record for the appeal is not completed yet and requested for further case management,” she said, adding that Siti Kasim’s counsel was not present at the proceeding today.
On August 21 last year, the magistrates’ court here discharged and acquitted Siti Kasim, whose real name is Siti Zabedah Kasim, 58, with resisting arrest by the Jawi officer, Siti Nor Jihan Saleh, 41, at a hotel here at 10.30pm on April 3, 2016.
The charge comes under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing a public servant in discharging her public functions.
Magistrate Tawfiq Affandy Chin made the decision after finding the prosecution failed to establish a case against Siti Kasim.
It is understood that the event was a closed-door dinner involving members of the transgender community. – Bernama, February 22, 2021
