Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KUALALUMPUR631
2008-07-17 10:32:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Cable title:
PROMINENT BLOGGER ARRESTED, CHARGED IN COURT
how-toVZCZCXRO9612 PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHKL #0631 1991032 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 171032Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1385 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHUM/AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR PRIORITY 0071 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
UNCLAS KUALA LUMPUR 000631
SIPDIS
FOR EAP/MTS AND INR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR KJUS KDEM MY
SUBJECT: PROMINENT BLOGGER ARRESTED, CHARGED IN COURT
REF: A. KUALA LUMPUR 626
B. KUALA LUMPUR 563
C. KUALA LUMPUR 529
D. KUALA LUMPUR 335
UNCLAS KUALA LUMPUR 000631
SIPDIS
FOR EAP/MTS AND INR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR KJUS KDEM MY
SUBJECT: PROMINENT BLOGGER ARRESTED, CHARGED IN COURT
REF: A. KUALA LUMPUR 626
B. KUALA LUMPUR 563
C. KUALA LUMPUR 529
D. KUALA LUMPUR 335
1. Police on July 17 arrested Raja Petra, controversial
editor of the online portal Malaysia Today, and prosecutors
charged him with criminal defamation of Deputy Prime Minister
Najib Razak's wife, Rosmah Mansor and two others. In a sworn
affidavit, Raja Petra claimed he was "reliably informed"
Rosmah was at the murder scene of Altantuya, a Mongolian
national linked to Najib's close political advisor Baginda,
who is standing trial for abetting the murder (ref C).
Police issued a summons on July 16 for Raja Petra to report
in on July 17, and arrested him after he arrived at the
police station. (Note: The summons came only a few hours
after police arrested Anwar Ibrahim, de facto Opposition
leader who also linked Najib to Altantuya, ref B. End Note.)
2. Police transported Raja Petra him to the Kuala Lumpur
Magistrate's Court, where he was formally charged. Petra
refused to enter a plea, saying the "grounds of the charges
are both defective and mala fide." Petra faces a possible
two-years sentence if found guilty. He is free after posting
a 2,000 ringgit ($ 625) bail. The court will review case
documents on August 15 and may set a trial date at that time.
KEITH
SIPDIS
FOR EAP/MTS AND INR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR KJUS KDEM MY
SUBJECT: PROMINENT BLOGGER ARRESTED, CHARGED IN COURT
REF: A. KUALA LUMPUR 626
B. KUALA LUMPUR 563
C. KUALA LUMPUR 529
D. KUALA LUMPUR 335
1. Police on July 17 arrested Raja Petra, controversial
editor of the online portal Malaysia Today, and prosecutors
charged him with criminal defamation of Deputy Prime Minister
Najib Razak's wife, Rosmah Mansor and two others. In a sworn
affidavit, Raja Petra claimed he was "reliably informed"
Rosmah was at the murder scene of Altantuya, a Mongolian
national linked to Najib's close political advisor Baginda,
who is standing trial for abetting the murder (ref C).
Police issued a summons on July 16 for Raja Petra to report
in on July 17, and arrested him after he arrived at the
police station. (Note: The summons came only a few hours
after police arrested Anwar Ibrahim, de facto Opposition
leader who also linked Najib to Altantuya, ref B. End Note.)
2. Police transported Raja Petra him to the Kuala Lumpur
Magistrate's Court, where he was formally charged. Petra
refused to enter a plea, saying the "grounds of the charges
are both defective and mala fide." Petra faces a possible
two-years sentence if found guilty. He is free after posting
a 2,000 ringgit ($ 625) bail. The court will review case
documents on August 15 and may set a trial date at that time.
KEITH