Controversial bloggers to stand trial for ‘bah kut teh’ post
(TMI) – Controversial sex bloggers Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee will face trial for their Ramadan bah kut teh (herbal pork soup) Facebook post, after the Kuala Lumpur High Court denied their stay application.
They had sought a stay on three charges including sedition and displaying pornographic images, pending their appeal against a High Court decision over the controversial “greeting” this year.
Justice Kamardin Hashim ruled that the duo had failed to give adequate reason for the High Court to halt the case.
“The burden is on the applicants to give grounds for a stay of proceedings. However, the court finds the reasons given to be inadequate and baseless,” he said, referring to Tan and Lee.
The trial will continue at the Sessions Court on January 8 next year.
Tan, 25, and Lee, 24, had applied for the stay pending the disposal of their appeal to the Court of Appeal, to have one of their charges dismissed on the grounds of being unconstitutional.
The Star online reported that deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin argued the fact a notice of appeal was filed was not enough to postpone the trial.
“This application was only made to delay the criminal trial,” said Shaharuddin in his preliminary objection.
He added that their appeal over the constitutionality of the charge under Section 298 A (1) of the Penal Code for stirring hostility between religions was not a complicated matter.
