Former Universiti Malaya New Youth Association (Umany) president Wong Yan Ke has failed in his final appeal to overturn his conviction and RM10,000 fine for insulting the university’s former vice-chancellor seven years ago.
A three-member Court of Appeal panel, led by Datuk Noorin Badaruddin, unanimously dismissed Yan Ke’s appeal against both his conviction and sentence, including his legal challenge under Section 504 of the Penal Code.
The panel found that the charge against Yan Ke was valid and that the prosecution had proven all elements of the offence beyond reasonable doubt.
The judges also found no miscarriage of justice or significant error in the Magistrates’ Court decision that would warrant intervention by the appellate court.
“We are unanimously satisfied that the appellant’s appeal against the conviction and sentence is without merit. The appeal is dismissed,” Noorin said in delivering the judgment.
The panel also comprised Datuk Hayatul Akmal Abdul Aziz and Datuk Meor Hashimi Abdul Hamid.
The Court of Appeal had previously granted Yan Ke leave to appeal against his conviction and RM10,000 fine.
Under Section 50 of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964, an appeal from the Magistrates’ Court to the Court of Appeal requires leave and may only be pursued on questions of law arising from a High Court decision made while hearing an appeal or revision from the Magistrates’ Court.
In October 2023, the Magistrates’ Court found Yan Ke, 29, guilty of intentionally insulting and provoking the anger of then UM vice-chancellor Datuk Ir Dr Abdul Rahim Hashim and guests during the university’s 59th convocation ceremony.
The incident took place at Dewan Tunku Canselor, Universiti Malaya, at around 10am on October 14, 2019.
Yan Ke, a civil engineering graduate of UM, was charged under Section 504 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum two-year jail term, a fine, or both upon conviction.
The Magistrates’ Court initially fined him RM5,000.
The High Court later increased the fine to RM10,000 after allowing the prosecution’s cross-appeal over the sentence, while dismissing Yan Ke’s appeal against his conviction and sentence.
