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Blogger Papagomo's Sedition Appeal Decision Due July 31
🇲🇾 Malaysia /Crime & Justice

Blogger Papagomo's Sedition Appeal Decision Due July 31

From Utusan Malaysia · () Malay

Translated from Malay, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • The Court of Appeal will decide on July 31 whether to overturn a decision that acquitted blogger Papagomo of inciting statements against the government.
  • Papagomo, whose real name is Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, was released and acquitted by the Sessions Court on September 3, 2025, without being called to defend himself.
  • The prosecution argues that the Sessions Court judge erred in emphasizing the withdrawal of a police report, asserting that the Attorney General's powers allow the case to proceed.

The High Court is set to rule on July 31 regarding the prosecution's appeal against the acquittal of blogger Papagomo, real name Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris. The appeal challenges a Sessions Court decision from September 3, 2025, which discharged and acquitted Papagomo of making seditious statements that linked the government to being pro-Israel and pro-West three years prior. He was released without being required to present a defense.

The prosecution has succeeded in proving that Papagomo made statements with seditious elements.

— Mohamad Mustaffa P. KunyalamThe Deputy Public Prosecutor arguing the prosecution's case during the appeal hearing.

During the appeal hearing, Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamad Mustaffa P. Kunyalam argued that the prosecution had successfully proven Papagomo made the seditious remarks. He contended that the Sessions Court judge made an error by placing undue emphasis on the withdrawal of a police report by the complainant, Hisham Shaharudin. The prosecution asserts that the complainant's testimony was not invalidated and that the Attorney General's authority, under Article 145(3) of the Federal Constitution and Section 376(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code, permits the continuation of the prosecution.

Papagomo was charged on January 8, 2024, with uttering seditious words on Facebook under the name Halid Hamidi on November 8, 2023. The statement was reportedly viewed by a 42-year-old man at a condominium in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. Despite the complainant withdrawing his police report, the prosecution maintains the charge is not defective and that the court cannot disregard the Attorney General's powers.

The Sessions Court judge erred when emphasizing the withdrawal of the police report, whereas the complainant's testimony was never erased or set aside through a witness credibility challenge proceeding.

— Mohamad Mustaffa P. KunyalamThe Deputy Public Prosecutor explaining why the prosecution believes the Sessions Court's acquittal was flawed.

Papagomo's lawyer, Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali, countered that the prosecution failed to establish the element of sedition under the law. He argued that the Sessions Court's decision was correct, based on the evidence presented and existing legal provisions, and that judicial interference was unwarranted. The prosecution team for the appeal also included Deputy Public Prosecutor Deepa Nair Thevaharan.

The prosecution failed to prove the element that my client's statement constituted sedition under the law.

— Muhammad Rafique Rashid AliPapagomo's lawyer presenting the defense's argument during the appeal.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Utusan Malaysia in Malay. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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