Chegubard gets 4 months’ jail for criminal defamation

The Kuala Lumpur sessions court has sentenced former Bersatu leader and activist Badrul Hisham Shaharin, also known as Chegubard, to four months’ imprisonment for criminal defamation over remarks that could tarnish the king’s reputation.

In a statement, lawyer Rafique Rashid Ali said judge Norma Ismail held that Badrul’s defence failed to raise reasonable doubt about the prosecution’s case.

He said the court imposed a four-month jail sentence after hearing mitigation from the defence and prosecution, but granted a stay of execution pending an appeal to the High Court.

The court also increased Badrul’s bail to RM5,000, he said.

Deputy public prosecutor Nursyuhada Husna Sulaiman appeared for the prosecution.

Badrul, 47, was charged on April 29, 2024 with committing the offence on Jan 22 that year under Section 500 of the Penal Code, which provides for up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine or both, upon conviction.

He was acquitted by the sessions court in 2025, but the High Court ordered him to enter his defence this year.