Malaysian activist found guilty of screening unapproved Lankan documentary

Malaysian activist Lena Hendry was convicted by a magistrate’s court for screening a Sri Lankan civil war documentary that had not been approved by the Censorship Board.

Hendry, 32, who stood expressionless in the dock upon hearing the verdict, later said she was disappointed with the judgment, the Star reported.

Her sentencing is scheduled for March 22, and she is currently out on bail.

“We will definitely appeal,” Hendry, who was accompanied by her lawyer New Sin Yew, said.

Hendry, who was also the programme coordinator for human rights group Pusat Komas, claimed trial in a magistrate’s court on Sept 19, 2013, to illegally screening the documentary No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka.

The film, which was directed by British national Callum Macrae. Hendry committed the offence at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall at Jalan Maharajalela  in 2013.

The charge under Section 6(1)(b) of the Film Censorship Act 2002 carries a jail term of up to three years or a fine of up to RM30,000 or both upon conviction.