Court Acquits Blogger Papagomo Of Sedition Over Government Criticism

SHAH ALAM, Oct 19  – The Klang Sessions Court on Monday, October 19, 2026, acquitted and discharged controversial blogger Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, widely known as Papagomo, of a sedition charge involving social media remarks made three years ago.

Sessions Court Judge Siti Aminah Ghazali delivered the verdict after deciding that the defence team had successfully raised reasonable doubt against the prosecution’s allegations.

Confirming the decision, defence counsel Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali stated that the court found the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt at the conclusion of the defence stage.

Wan Muhammad Azri, 43, stood as the sole witness for his defence, while Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamad Mustaffa P. Kunyalam appeared for the prosecution.

Case History, Allegations, and Legal Framework

The acquittal marks the conclusion of a complex legal sequence spanning several court rulings:

• Initial Acquittal & Prosecution Appeal: Judge Siti Aminah originally acquitted Papagomo on September 3, 2025, after ruling that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case. However, the Kuala Lumpur High Court overturned that decision on July 31, 2026, ordering him to enter his defence.
• Core Charges: On January 8, 2024, Wan Muhammad Azri pleaded not guilty to a charge of making seditious statements on Facebook alleging that the government maintained pro-Israel and pro-Western stances.
• Alleged Posting Location: The prosecution alleged the comments were posted on a Facebook page belonging to Halid Hamidi (Halid Mat Kool) and were viewed by a member of the public at a condominium in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, on November 8, 2023.
• Statutory Penalties: The charge was framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948, carrying maximum penalties of three years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to RM5,000, or both upon conviction.

Following the court’s verdict, Wan Muhammad Azri was released from all legal obligations related to the case.

–NMT