Raja Petra again refuses to enter plea

Saturday August 16, 2008
Raja Petra again refuses to enter plea

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin again refused to enter a plea after he was recharged with three counts of criminal defamation over his statutory declaration on the murder of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Raja Petra, 58, repeatedly told Sessions Court judge Mohamad Sekeri Mamat: “I refuse to enter a plea on grounds that the charges are mala fide.”

Upon being told by the judge that he had to enter a plea, Raja Petra said loudly after his case was transferred from a magistrate's court to the Sessions Court yesterday:

“I refuse to respond to any plea. My plea remains the same.”

He is alleged to have defamed the Deputy Prime Minister’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor by making a libellous statement in the declaration, which he affirmed on June 18.

He also faces two similar charges against Kolonel Norhayati Hassan and her husband Acting Kolonel Abdul Aziz Buyong.

The news portal editor is said to have committed the offences at High Court (Civil 5) at the Jalan Duta court complex at 10.25am on June 18.

Lawyer Amarjit Singh told the judge that the defence team would be making a preliminary objection against the charges on the trial day on the grounds that they were defective.

Raja Petra's bail of RM2,000 set by the magistrate was retained.

The court set two days from Nov 24 for a joint trial.