Sessions Court to jointly hear RPK’s cases on May 26

(The Star) – The three criminal defamation charges Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin is facing will be jointly heard at a Sessions Court here for three days from May 26.

Sources said more than eight witnesses are expected to testify.

Sessions Court judge Mohamad Sekeri Mamat set the dates yesterday when informed by DPP Anselm Charles Fernandis that Raja Petra had failed in his bid on Feb 13 to get his cases transferred back to the Magistrates Court for trial.

Raja Petra had also on Nov 25 applied to the High Court to have his cases heard by the Magistrates Court.

However, High Court Judicial Commissioner Zainal Azman Ab Aziz ruled that the decision by magistrate Nazran Mohd Sham on Aug 15 last year to transfer the cases to the Sessions Court upon application by the Public Prosecutor under Section 177 of the Criminal Procedure Code was valid and in order.

Raja Petra, 59, had on July 17 last year claimed trial to three counts of criminal defamation over his statutory declaration on the murder of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu.

He is alleged to have defamed the Deputy Prime Minister’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor in the declaration affirmed on June 18. He also faces two similar charges.