The Kuala Lumpur High Court has set July 31, 2026 to deliver its ruling on the prosecution's appeal against the acquittal of blogger Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, also known as Papagomo, on a sedition charge [1, 2, 3].

Wan Muhammad Azri was acquitted by the Sessions Court on September 3, 2025, after the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case [1, 4, 2, 3]. He had pleaded not guilty on January 8, 2024 to charges of uttering seditious words in a Facebook post alleging the government was pro-Israel and pro-West [1, 2, 3].

The allegedly seditious remarks were published on the Facebook page "Halid Hamidi (Halid Mat Kool)" and viewed by a man at a condominium on Jalan Tong Shin, Bukit Bintang at about 1pm on November 8, 2023 [1, 2, 3]. The charge was framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948, which carries a maximum fine of RM5,000 and up to 3 years imprisonment [1, 2, 3].

Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamad Mustaffa P Kunyalam argued that the prosecution had established a prima facie case and that the charge was valid [1, 4, 2, 3]. He said the court could not disregard the Attorney General's powers under Article 145(3) of the Federal Constitution to proceed with prosecution [1]. Mohamad Mustaffa added that the first prosecution witness testified seeing a video containing the seditious statements made by Wan Azri [4].

After testifying, the first witness and complainant, Hisham Sharudin, withdrew his police report. The prosecution argued this should not undermine their case, explaining, "Does this mean the prosecution's case automatically failed and warranted a discharge and acquittal? Respectfully, the prosecution argues that this is not the case" [3].

Defense counsel Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali countered that the prosecution failed to prove essential legal elements of sedition and that the withdrawal of the police report undermined the prosecution's case [1, 4, 3]. He argued the Sessions Court made the correct decision and the High Court should not interfere [1, 3].

Positions differ on whether the Sessions Court erred by not calling Wan Azri to enter his defence; the prosecution says it did, while the defense asserts the court's ruling was sound [1, 4, 2, 3].

The High Court will hear further arguments and is scheduled to deliver its decision on the appeal on July 31, 2026 [1, 2, 3].