Raja Petra decision on Feb 13 PDF Print E-mail
Posted by admin
Wednesday, 21 January 2009 20:58
(NST) - Political commentator Raja Petra Kamarudin will have to wait until next month to know the status of the defamation charges against him.
High Court Judicial Commissioner Zainal Azman Ab Aziz will deliver his decision on Feb 13. He fixed the date yesterday after hearing submissions.
Raja Petra, 59, is facing three counts of criminal defamation over a statutory declaration he made about the murder of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu.
He is alleged to have defamed the deputy prime minister's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Lt-Col Norhayati Hassan and her husband, Lt-Col Abdul Aziz Buyong, by making a libellous statement in the declaration, which he affirmed on June 18, when he knew that it would tarnish their names.
He was alleged to have committed the offences at High Court Civil 5 in the Jalan Duta court complex at 10.25am on June 18 last year.
His counsel Manjeet Singh Dhillon yesterday submitted that the prosecution's application to transfer the case from the magistrate's court to the Sessions Court had exposed Raja Petra to a potentially heavier punishment.
"The charges faced by Raja Petra carry a maximum two years' jail, or fine, or both. A magistrate has the jurisdiction to pass sentences up to five years' jail, a fine of up to RM10,000 or whipping up to 12 strokes.
"In contrast, a Sessions Court judge can pass any sentence other than the death sentence.
"Also, there is no cap on the maximum fine that the judge can impose."
Manjeet said the transfer order granted by the magistrate's court was unconstitutional as it had breached the equality provision under the Federal Constitution.
"There is clear discrimination whereby Raja Petra is being singled out for harsher punishment."
Comments (9)Add Comment
...
written by Observer, January 21, 2009 21:07:50
Harsher punishment. Definitely the AG had that pure intention.
SHIT!! I stepped on SHIT!!!
I think Ahmadneil won't mind taking my shoe and put on the AG's face.
report abuse
disagree 0
agree 20
...
written by onnetline, January 21, 2009 21:21:02
That pigTAIL AG and his bosses have criminal intent !
report abuse
disagree 0
agree 15
...
written by ahmadneil, January 21, 2009 21:23:24
Sure,Observer! this kangaroo must be stuff.
report abuse
disagree 0
agree 12
...
written by ahmadneil, January 21, 2009 21:24:36
They just want to exterminate this writer!
report abuse
disagree 0
agree 13
...
written by 1351, January 21, 2009 21:41:23
Notice how no sitting judge wants to touch this case. And hence what we have here is a Judicial Comm expressly promoted just to hear Raja Petra's defamation case. UMNO oh UMNO, this one is gonna cost you big time. Any adverse publicity on this will be paid back 100 folds by voters in time to come.
report abuse
disagree 0
agree 11
...
written by PAKRAK, January 21, 2009 22:05:18
Manjeet Singh Dhillon, you are paid to do your job. It does not matter if it is Majistrate's, Sessions, High or Supreme Court.... Badminton, Squash or Tennis or even Ming Court, your job is to clear him. Don't tell us if the case moves to another court the punishment is more severe. Clobber those idiots!
report abuse
disagree 4
agree 9
...
written by Zeroed, January 21, 2009 22:49:23
1351, I concur with you. I wish I could write further but i only have vile sadistic derogatory foul language running through my mind now. If god is great, UMNO will fall!!!
report abuse
disagree 0
agree 7
...
written by freedom to speak, January 22, 2009 00:38:28
RPK,
I'm getting really sick with the chain of events that have been happening this last few days. How low can this once "reputable" country go? Government flawed. Our justice system a laughing stock. Our police a group of *******. Our royals, hands tied and toothless. All while the rakyat is usurped. When is our OBAMA coming?
report abuse
disagree 0
agree 2
...
written by SocratesI, January 22, 2009 00:59:51
What this Barisan Najis and Anjing don't realize is that the more they indulge themselves in Injustice against opposing voices, and the Rakyat, the faster they will be booted out of power, with more and more decent Rakyat supporting Pakatan Rakyat's cause. People like RPK, DSAI, LKS, Nik Aziz will become our martyrs for the Rakyat, shining examples for our sons and daughters to follow !
.
report abuse
disagree 0
agree 3
