Rev Fr. Paulino Miranda was back in the dock as a result of an appeal filed by the Attorney General’s Chambers against his acquittal by the Sessions Court on September 18, 2013.
The appeal was called up for hearing before the Hon. Madam Justice Choong Siew Kim at the Shah Alam High Court.
During the hearing of the Appeal, the prosecution had attempted to screen the video taken on the night of the arrest of Fr. Paulino and 20 other charged with him. Francis Pereira, counsel for Fr. Paulino objected and argued that the video tapes were held by the police and not by the prosecution.
Further, he submitted that the Sessions Court found that the video tapes were tampered. The matter was adjourned to enable the prosecution to clarify with the Sessions Court if there were any directions made for the video tape to be placed in the custody of the police.
The hearing of the Appeal is now adjourned to 14 November 2013.
Fr. Paulino together with 20 others were previously acquitted by the Sessions Court on the charge for inter alia taking part in an illegal assembly in front of the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) building on October 9, 2008 between 9pm and 10.10pm and for failing to disperse after a police order.
Others that were charged with him include Tony Pua, the Opposition Members of Parliament, Lau Weng San and Tiew Wai Keng, State Assembly Persons of the current Selangor State Assembly.