FASTAQIM ....

Student activist released from prison

KUALA LUMPUR: A student activist who was sentenced to a month’s jail by a magistrate’s court last Friday for obstructing a Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) enforcement officer from arresting another activist at Dataran Merdeka has been released from prison.

This follows the High Court's decision yesterday to allow Umar Mohamad Azmi's stay application pending disposal of his appeal to the High Court.

In allowing the stay, judge Amelia Tee Hong Geok Abdullah raised the bail amount from RM1,000 to RM5,000.

The judge also reminded Umar, represented by Syahredzan Johan, to avoid being involved in similar offences.

 "The prosecution is to apply immediately to revoke bail if he is found to be involved in similar offences. Then he will have to serve his sentence immediately," she said.

Tee also addressed Umar's father Mohd Azmi Mohd Amin who was in the gallery and advised him to keep his son in check during the bail period.

 Azmi told reporters later that he would post the additional sum to secure the release of Umar, 23, who was being held at the Kajang prison.

 Apart from the custodial sentence, magistrate Zaki Asyraf Zubir also fined Umar RM1,000 or a month's jail. The amount was also paid.

Umar was found guilty of intentionally preventing enforcement officer Mohd Masran Mamat from arresting Mohd Fahmi Reza Zarin at 8am on April 22.

The accused was said to be involved in the anti National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) movement camped out in the square.

Umar, a final-year student in a private college, is currently undergoing his internship in Johor Baru.