1MDB: Rewcastle-Brown will get a fair trial, no palace interference – Prosecution
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court was told today that Sarawak Report Editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown, who is facing charges of defaming Sultanah Terengganu Sultanah Nur Zahirah, will get a fair trial if the case is conducted in the Kuala Terengganu Magistrate’s Court.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Noor Haslinda Che Seman in her argument said this is because throughout the prosecution of the case, there was no interference from the palace (Terengganu).
According to Noor Haslinda, the court officials who have been appointed in the case will also carry out their duties fairly and impartially, regardless of whether the case involves the palace or a case of public interest.
“There is not a single conclusive evidence presented by the applicant (Rewcastle-Brown) in their submissions that shows the Magistrate Court is likely to act unfairly in the hearing of this case.
“I believe the authority of the trial judge should not be disputed because it leads to contempt of court. I beg the court to reject the applicant’s application,” he said when arguing in Rewcastle-Brown’s application to transfer the case of issuing defamatory statements against Sultanah Nur Zahirah through the book ‘The Sarawak Report – The Inside Story of the 1MDB Expose’, from the Kuala Terengganu Magistrate’s Court to the High Court here.
In addition, Noor Haslinda said the applicant should have filed an application to transfer the case in the Magistrate’s Court in Kuala Terengganu instead of the High Court here.
“The applicant should make the application to the Magistrate as a trial judge if there is any issue related to the Federal Constitution for a reference to be made to the High Court as provided under Section 30 of the Court of Justice Act 1964,” he said and added that the case was set for Thursday at the Kuala Magistrate’s Court Terengganu.
Regarding the arrest warrant notice against Rewcastle-Brown to enable her to appear at the Kuala Terengganu Magistrate’s Court so that the charges will be read against her, Noor Haslinda said the notice was submitted through Interpol, but it failed to be submitted to the woman.
Earlier, lawyer Guok Ngek Seong who represented Rewcastle-Brown said his client applied to transfer her case to the High Court here as she was concerned that there might be bias in the trial of the case.
“The applicant does not question the integrity of the lower court but she may be worried that she will not get a fair trial because the Magistrate’s Court is in the same state and a police report was made against him by the palace,” said the lawyer.
After hearing the arguments of both parties, Judge K. Muniandy set June 21 for a decision on whether to grant Rewcastle-Brown’s application or not.
Rewcastle-Brown, who is from the United Kingdom, was charged in the Kuala Terengganu Magistrate’s Court in absentia on 23 Sept 2021 for the charge under Section 500 of the Penal Code which carries a maximum prison sentence of two years or a fine or both, if convicted.
