Prudent media coverage over the controversial murder of Mongolian model Altantuya alias Aminah Shaariibuu is essential to avoid a trial by media, warns media watchdog Writers' Alliance for Media Independence (Wami).

Wami president Wong Chin Huat said while it was acceptable to give readers and viewers clues about the case to understand the matter, the media should not lead them into a simple conclusion.

"The reader has the right to know the possibilities, but the media has to avoid being too suggestive and lead readers to a conclusion even before a court trial starts," Wong told malaysiakini.

A case in point was suggestions by several media organisations that the murder victim may be involved in a blackmailing scam.

The murder has received prominent media coverage after news broke that a well-connected political analyst and three law enforcers was detained by the police to assist in investigations.

High moral ground

Similarly, Consumer Association of Subang and Shah Alam president Jacob George said the media portrayal of the murder victim had been rather 'insensitive'.

"It reminds me of the Norita (Samsuddin) and Canny Ong murder cases, where the media passed judgement on the victims. The adjectives that were used to describe them were very disturbing,

"It seems that (in the case of the Mongolian model) the media has taken a very high moral ground as though she (the victim) was asking for it," said George when contacted.

He reminded that the media must take into account of Asian values and be sensitive to family and friends of those involved in the case.

Both Wong and George concurred that media organisations must be consistent when it comes to naming a suspect that has been detained to assist investigations but has not been charged.

Respect for law

Meanwhile, academic Prof Mohd Hamdan Adnan when asked to comment on the way the case is unfolding in the media, said naming a suspect which has not been accused in the court of law was risky.

"Freedom (of the press) comes with responsibility and the media needs to be more judicious. The media cannot implicate people without due course of the law," said Hamdan, who lectures in public relations.

A source in a mainstream newspaper said that his organisation had named the suspect because two foreign news agencies had already done so prior to publication.

"However, should the (suspect) be found innocent, the editors have decided that they would play up his innocence," said the source.

Today, two newspapers - The Star and Utusan Malaysia - broke ranks by naming the suspect, who is a political analyst, while all others have refrained from doing so.

It is a general journalistic principle that a suspect should not be named until the individual has been charged in court.