KUALA LUMPUR: Former Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Raja Kamaruddin is still a wanted man, says Federal CID Director Comm Datuk Seri Bakri Zinin. Despite being given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal by the Sessions Court yesterday, he said Raja Petra would most likely still have to face the court.
“It is up to the A-G’s (Attorney-General’s) Chambers to decide whether to uphold the charges against him.
“We can still charge him after he comes back as the case has not been thrown out yet. He is still wanted based on the case,” he said.
Comm Bakri added that Raja Petra’s wife, Marina Lee, was also wanted as she was his bailor who has also gone missing.
On May 6 last year, Raja Petra, 60, pleaded not guilty to posting seditious words relating to an article in his website www.malaysiatoday.net on April 25 last year.
In Petaling Jaya, the Sessions Court gave Raja Petra a discharge not amounting to an acquittal because the police could not trace him, reports Bernama.
Judge Rozina Ayub, in making the order, said it was most embarrassing for all the parties concerned that the prosecution had failed to serve the warrant of arrest on Raja Petra, leaving the case hanging and without an ending.
“This case cannot proceed. It’s a pity because the prosecution had called seven witnesses,” she said.
Rozina also ordered that a notice be served on Marina to show cause why she should not forfeit the RM5,000 bail that she had posted.
Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar informed the court that the police had failed to trace Raja Petra.
The court had expected the case to be disposed of by the end of next month and the prosecution had lined up at least eight witnesses. However, Raja Petra went missing after seven witnesses were called.- The Star Online
