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Malaysian journalist on trial for alleged sedition

Posted by St Low

Tuesday, 07 October 2008 09:22

By JULIA ZAPPEI,Associated Press Writer AP

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - The editor of Malaysia's best-known anti-government news Web site went on trial Monday on sedition charges for allegedly implying the deputy prime minister was involved in the murder of a Mongolian woman.

Raja Petra Raja Kamaruddin, who denies the accusation, is already in jail in a separate case under the Internal Security Act, a law that allows indefinite detention without trial.

The two cases against Raja Petra, 58, who runs the popular Malaysia Today news site, have provoked an outcry against the government, with detractors accusing it of misusing the judiciary to crack down on critics and suppress freedom of speech.

"They are penalizing him twice. ... It's double jeopardy. But his spirits are up," Raja Petra's wife, Marina, said at a district court where the frail-looking activist, unshaved and wearing flip-flops, was brought in handcuffs for the trial.

If convicted, Raja Petra faces up to three years in jail.

The sedition charge stems from an April 25 article titled "Let's Send the Altantuya Murderers to Hell" that Raja Petra posted on his Web site. It allegedly implied that Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, were involved in the 2006 killing in Malaysia of Altantuya Shaariibuu, a 28-year-old Mongolian interpreter. Both have denied involvement.

Two policemen have been accused of killing her and destroying her body with explosives in a jungle clearing. Abdul Razak Baginda, a close associate of Najib, is charged with abetting the murder. The trial of the three men is under way.

The prosecution contends that Abdul Razak had the woman killed because she pestered him for money after he ended an affair.

Four months after Raja Petra was charged with sedition, he was arrested on Sept. 12 under the Internal Security Act for publishing articles that the government says created racial tension in the multiethnic nation.

Some of Malaysia's most popular blogs offer strong anti-government commentaries and present themselves as a substitute for mainstream media, which are controlled by political parties or are closely linked to them.

The government estimates there are more than 700 Malaysians who blog on social and political issues.

Comments (8) Add Comment

...
written by malgal, October 07, 2008 09:41:03

A million more read the blogs with relish.
Getting informed, getting alternative perspectives.
Get your eyes off your screen and come support RPK - you read his blog, now support your news provider.
PJ Sessions Court. Map a click away on the blogs.
Come, please.

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...
written by cheekhiaw, October 07, 2008 10:08:47

LATEST UPDATE ON CHANDRA HARME EXCHANGE IN COURT

Chandra: Can you determine with absolute certainty that the said 'seditious' posting was not actually made by someone that was actually present at the scene when Altantuya was blown up with C4?

Harme: No.

Chandra: Then is it possible that the article was actually written by someone who was actually present at the scene of the blowing up of Altantuya?

Harme: Possible.

Chandra: In that case, that person would know who was present at the scene wouldn't it not?

Harme: Yes.

Chandra: Did that article say that one of those present was a woman related to a senior government leader?

Harme: Yes

Chandra: Do you also know that that woman happens to be the wife of the DPM that so happens to have policemen that happens to have multiple kills and also so happens to be under charge, along with a top government advisor that also happens to be the DPM's good friend, for murdering Altantuya whose immigration records just happens to have disappeared into thin air?

Harme: Yes

Chandra: Do you also know that Altantuya was blown up with C4 that alo happens to be possibly issued by the defence establishment that happened to be under the charge of a man that just happened to be the DPM?

Harme: Yes

Chandra: Do you think any Tom, Dick or Harry would be able to get the Police to assign multi-kill policemen to the DPM, get the Immigration Dept to erase immigration records, and have the military to issue C4 and C4 experts for the murder?

Harme: No. Not any Tom, Dick and Harry but 1 or 2 Dicks can.

Chandra: And can you say with absolute certainty that all that were just mere coincidences?

Harme: No.

Chandra: Do you then think that everything do not just smell suspicious?

Harme: Yes, it stinks all over. Even MCMC can smell it over the net.

Chandra: In that case, do you think there may be some grounds for the police to start an investigation into the claims made by the article that was possibly written by a person that was actually present at the scene of murder?

Harme: Yes.

Chandra: And if the contents of the article are true, then they are not seditious, isn't it not?

Harme: Yes.

Chandra: Your honour, until the contents of the said article are established to be false beyond all doubts there is no case to even suggest that the said article is seditious let alone that my client was the author. I therefore demand an annulment of my client's case.

Judge: Agreed. Case closed. Now police fellas, go do some real investigation work and open a new case at the defence ministry...

xxx

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written by ahmadneil, October 07, 2008 10:24:40

These fools who put RPK on trail for sedition are jealous of his popularity.Release RPK now!

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written by ahmadneil, October 07, 2008 11:12:38

This morning I saw the handcuff is a bit loose but still with the dark circle round his eyes,RPK must have been harressed through out the night to prevent him from sleeping so as to deprive him of having good memory.

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written by kayakaya, October 07, 2008 11:21:18

Good Morning Raja Petra Kamaruddin....

here's a song for you....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9T_gQfxFaw

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written by malgal, October 07, 2008 15:51:13

The web of deceit works to trap the spinner of the web. Sit tight RPK, your enemies will spin themselves into their own trap.

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written by elmo world, October 07, 2008 18:18:11

"The sedition charge stems from an April 25 article titled "Let's Send the Altantuya Murderers to Hell" that Raja Petra posted on his Web site. It allegedly implied that Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, were involved in the 2006 killing in Malaysia of Altantuya Shaariibuu, a 28-year-old Mongolian interpreter. "

WAIT A MINUTE!!!

what is that doign with "racial tension in the multiethnic nation."!!!???

they just want to shut every body's mouth, so that they can get rid of it.

& absolutely misused of power to put PKR under ISA...

shit!

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written by benny loh, October 07, 2008 21:54:40

GETTING 'eerie'..
http://malaysiancartoons.blogs...tings.html

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