Why were 11 Bersih demonstrators fined RM8,000 each?

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Eleven Bersih Demonstrators Fined RM8,000 Each for Disobeying Police Order

Eleven demonstrators from the Bersih 1.0 Assembly have been fined RM8,000 each by the High Court after being found guilty of disobeying a police order to disperse. This decision overturned an earlier acquittal by the Sessions Court. Each demonstrator faces a two-month jail sentence if they fail to pay the fine.
Conviction for Disobeying Dispersal Order

The eleven individuals, identified as Mohd Zad Abdullah, Mohd Salim Yeslam, Abdul Razali Abdul Rahman, Razali Abdul, Azahar Yusop, Sulaiman Ahmad, Taib Abdullah, Mohd Shafie Ismail, Mohd Nazreen Mohd Nasir, Mohd Abi Salam Ariffin, and Ishak Othman, were convicted of offences committed on November 10, 2007. The High Court found that they had failed to comply with lawful instructions from the police to disperse during the assembly.
High Court Overturns Sessions Court Acquittal

Justice Datuk Amelia Tee Hong Geok Abdullah delivered the sentence after allowing the prosecution's appeal against the Sessions Court's initial decision to acquit and discharge the defendants. The judge stated that the defence presented at the Sessions Court appeared to be an afterthought and that the earlier judge had erred in dismissing the credibility of police witnesses. The High Court was satisfied that the defence had not established reasonable doubt.
Details of the Offences and Charges

The offences occurred in several locations within the federal capital, including Jalan Raja Laut, Jalan Istana Baru, and Jalan Tun Perak, between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM on November 10, 2007. The demonstrators were charged under Section 27(5)(a) of the Police Act 1967. Failure to pay the RM8,000 fine would result in a two-month jail term for each individual.
Acquittals for Other Figures Upheld

In contrast to the eleven demonstrators, the High Court upheld the Sessions Court's decision to acquit and discharge PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu and Batu MP Tian Chua from the same charge. Justice Tee noted that the Sessions Court Judge did not err in those acquittals, partly due to the prosecution's failure to submit video recordings, which had a significant impact on those cases. Additionally, the appeal of former Padang Serai MP N. Gobalakrishnan against his RM6,000 fine for participating in the demonstration was allowed, and the decision was set aside.

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Why were 11 Bersih demonstrators fined RM8,000 each?

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