Former Bersatu Port Dickson division chief Badrul Hisham Shaharin has been sentenced to four months in jail for making a defamatory statement that could harm the reputation of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim.
Sessions Court Judge Norma Ismail handed down the sentence on Wednesday after finding that the defence had failed to raise reasonable doubt at the end of its case.
The 48-year-old, better known as Chegubard, was ordered to begin serving his sentence immediately.
However, the court allowed his application to stay the sentence pending an appeal to the High Court. His bail was increased by RM5,000 to RM15,000.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nursyuhada Husna Sulaiman handled the prosecution, while Chegubard was represented by lawyer Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali.
On June 24, High Court judge Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin ordered Chegubard to enter his defence after allowing the prosecution’s appeal against the Sessions Court’s earlier decision to acquit and discharge him at the end of the prosecution’s case.
The Sessions Court had acquitted him on Nov 4 last year after ruling that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case.
Chegubard was charged on April 29, 2024, with making a defamatory statement, knowing or having reason to believe that it could damage the reputation of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
The alleged offence took place at the Office of the Datuk Pengelola Bijaya Diraja at Istana Negara at 6pm on Jan 22, 2024.
The charge was brought under Section 500 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail term of two years, a fine, or both upon conviction.
