Alvin fails to attend court, re-mention set on Aug 22
KUALA LUMPUR: Controversial blogger Alvin Tan, who is facing a charge for mocking Muslims and Ramadan, today failed to attend court when his case was brought up for mention in the Sessions Court here.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Yong Ann Nee told the court that the warrant of arrest had yet to be executed on Alvin or his full name, Tan Jye Yee, 26, after the court issued an arrest warrant on the blogger last June 13.
Subsequently the prosecution made an application to fix another date for a re-mention of the case and show cause notice to the surety on why the bond of RM30,000 imposed on Tan should not be forfeited by the court.
Judge Abdul Rashid Daud set August 22 for a re-mention of the case.
Vivian Lee or Lee May Ling, 25, who was charged jointly with Tan, did not attend today's proceeding after her attendance was exempted by the court.
Last June 13, the court issued a warrant of arrest on Tan after he failed to return his international passport before June 4 and only Lee had returned her passport to the court on June 3.
The couple represented by counsel, Chong Joo Tian had their passports returned on May 12 to enable them to go to Singapore from May 18 till June 3 this year.
The duo was charged with making a seditious posting on "Alvin and Vivian -Alvivi" Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/alvivi.swingers) by uploading a photograph of themselves eating bak kut teh, a pork dish, with the greeting, "Selamat Berbuka Puasa with bak kut teh...fragrant, delicious and appetising" together with the 'halal' logo.
The offence under the Sedition Act 1948, was allegedly committed between July 11 and 12, at Kompleks Mutiara, Jalan Ipoh, 3 1/2 Mile, here.
They were also charged under the Film Censorship Act 2002 for displaying pornographic pictures on https://alviviswingers.tumblr.com/ at the same place between 9pm, July 6 and 2am, July 7, 2013.
Last April 23, the prosecution filed an appeal at the Federal Court against a decision by the Court of Appeal, made on April 21, in dropping one of three charges against the couple, on grounds that it was not applicable to non-Muslims. – Bernama