Irene Fernandezs trial postponed yet again
Ajinder KaurPublished: Jan 12, 2001 12:18 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
The 'false news' trial of Tenaganita director Irene Fernandez was postponed again today to Jan 17, as there was no interpreter available for a Bangladeshi witness.
Magistrate Juliana Mohamed adjourned the hearing to next Wednesday after informing both parties that the court could only arrange for an interpreter then.
The trial, which was last heard on Nov 7 last year, was postponed almost 50 times last year due to the unavailability of a Bangladeshi interpreter.
It is understood that the Malaysian courts have only two official Bangladeshi interpreters who work on a very tight schedule.
Fernandez is being charged with "maliciously publishing false news" by releasing a memorandum at a press conference in August 1995 on the torture and deaths at illegal immigrant detention camps.
The women's rights activist and Keadilan supreme council member faces three years in prison if convicted. She is currently out on bail.
The trial which began in June 1996 is the longest ongoing criminal trial in the country's legal history.
Defamation suit
Meanwhile, the Kuala Lumpur High Court today fixed Jan 31 to hear a defamation suit brought by Fernandez against the Utusan Malaysia Malay daily.
Justice RK Nathan fixed the date after counsel Malik Imtiaz told the court that Fernandez would proceed with the suit although her criminal trial is ongoing at the Magistrate's court.
Fernandez is suing the paper over an article which appeared on Sept 20, 1995 which stated that she had failed to cooperate with the police in their investigations into the allegations found in the memorandum.
In the suit, Fernandez claimed that the article was written with malice and had meant that she was purposely evading the police, was insincere and lacked integrity.
In defence, Utusan Malaysia denied defaming Fernandez and stated that the article was based on facts.
Fernandez had started testifying for the defamation suit on Nov 23 last year but was stopped by Nathan who asked her if it was wise for her to give evidence on matters which are linked to the criminal charge she is facing.
Magistrate Juliana Mohamed adjourned the hearing to next Wednesday after informing both parties that the court could only arrange for an interpreter then.
The trial, which was last heard on Nov 7 last year, was postponed almost 50 times last year due to the unavailability of a Bangladeshi interpreter.
It is understood that the Malaysian courts have only two official Bangladeshi interpreters who work on a very tight schedule.
Fernandez is being charged with "maliciously publishing false news" by releasing a memorandum at a press conference in August 1995 on the torture and deaths at illegal immigrant detention camps.
The women's rights activist and Keadilan supreme council member faces three years in prison if convicted. She is currently out on bail.
The trial which began in June 1996 is the longest ongoing criminal trial in the country's legal history.
Defamation suit
Meanwhile, the Kuala Lumpur High Court today fixed Jan 31 to hear a defamation suit brought by Fernandez against the Utusan Malaysia Malay daily.
Justice RK Nathan fixed the date after counsel Malik Imtiaz told the court that Fernandez would proceed with the suit although her criminal trial is ongoing at the Magistrate's court.
Fernandez is suing the paper over an article which appeared on Sept 20, 1995 which stated that she had failed to cooperate with the police in their investigations into the allegations found in the memorandum.
In the suit, Fernandez claimed that the article was written with malice and had meant that she was purposely evading the police, was insincere and lacked integrity.
In defence, Utusan Malaysia denied defaming Fernandez and stated that the article was based on facts.
Fernandez had started testifying for the defamation suit on Nov 23 last year but was stopped by Nathan who asked her if it was wise for her to give evidence on matters which are linked to the criminal charge she is facing.
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