Friday, November 7, 2008

Court frees Raja Petra - Star

SHAH ALAM: Nov 7, 2008

LONG LIVE RAJA PETRA

Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin and wife Marina Lee Abdullah leaving the Shah Alam High Court after he was released from ISA detention on Friday

The High Court here Friday released Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamaruddin from detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA) after allowing his application for a writ of habeas corpus.

Justice Datuk Syed Ahmad Helmy Syed Ahmad held that the grounds for his detention by Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar under Section 8 of the ISA did not come within the scope of that section.

He then ordered that Raja Petra, 58, who has been held at the Kamunting detention camp in Taiping, Perak, since Sept 12, be brought before the court at 4pm for his release.

Raja Petra, 58, had applied for the writ of habeas corpus seeking his release on the grounds that his detention under the ISA was unlawful and unconstitutional. He named Syed Hamid as the respondent.

Raja Petra’s wife, Marina Lee, and their two daughters, Suraya, 34, dan Sarah, 19, and other family members cried and hugged each other after the judgment was delivered.

Meanwhile, his supporters in the gallery clapped and cheered.

Raja Petra was represented by counsel Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, Ashok Kandiah and Azhar Azizan Harun, while senior federal counsel Abdul Wahab Mohamad appeared for the prosecution.

Raja Petra was detained on the same day as Seputeh Member of Parliament Teresa Kok and Sin Chew Daily journalist Tan Hoon Cheng, also under the ISA. Both have since been released. - Bernama

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