The 'false news' trial of Tenaganita director Irene Fernandez was today postponed to tomorrow due to the unavailability of a Bangladeshi interpreter - the fifth time since it was last heard two months ago.

Magistrate Juliana Mohamed informed both the defence and prosecution that a court interpreter arranged for a Bangladeshi witness would only be available tomorrow.

The trial has been postponed 47 times since last year due to the unavailability of a Bangladeshi interpreter ([#1]Court told of problems involving Bangladeshi interpreters[/#], Jan 18).

It is understood that the Malaysian courts have only two official Bangladeshi interpreters who work on a very tight schedule.

Cross-examination

Fernandez is being charged with 'maliciously publishing false news' by releasing a memorandum at a press conference in August 1995 on torture and deaths at illegal immigrant detention camps.

The women's rights activist and Keadilan supreme council member faces up to 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.

Deputy public prosecutor Abdul Rahman Redza is scheduled to cross-examine former immigrant camp detainee Zakir Hussein when the trial resumes tomorrow.