UMNO Man Charged In Court For Alleging PM Ismail Conspired With Dr M To Jail Najib
Lokman, who used to be an UMNO supreme council member, now works as a satay seller.
By Sadho Ram — 02 Sep 2022, 01:30 PM
UMNO's Lokman Noor Adam, one of convicted criminal Datuk Seri Najib Razak's loyalists in the party, was charged in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court yesterday, 1 September
According to New Straits Times, the 49-year-old claimed trial for two charges before Sessions Court judge Nor Hasniah Ab Razak. Lokman pleaded not guilty to both charges.
Both charges were framed under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which carries a maximum of one-year imprisonment or RM50,000 fine, or both, upon conviction.
Lokman allegedly uploaded two Facebook posts, insulting and alleging that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob conspired with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to convict Najib.
The Facebook posts were allegedly uploaded on the nights of 20 August and 22 August.
Lokman was allowed bail of RM8,000 with one surety on each charge and was ordered to not post any statement on the case on social media
While deputy public prosecutors Nadia Mohamad Izhar and Iznina Hanim had asked for the court to order RM15,000 bail for each charge, Lokman's lawyer Logen Eskanda asked for RM2,000 bail for each charge.
Logen argued that the former UMNO supreme council member now works as a satay seller and, as such, did not have a stable income with 11 children of schooling age to look after.
Following that, judge Nor Hasniah set bail at RM8,000 for each charge and allowed the prosecution's request to impose a gag order on Lokman, restricting him from discussing the merits of his cases.
The court fixed 26 September for the case mention.
Meanwhile, speaking to reporters outside the court complex, Lokman reportedly urged his party to take disciplinary action against Ismail
Malaysiakini reported that Lokman alleged that the prime minister had agreed in writing to expedite the criminal court cases involving Najib and UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
"This is all in the agreement and it is clear proof that he (Ismail Sabri) interfered in court proceedings and in the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC)," Malaysiakini reported Lokman as saying.
