KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 27): Several documents that will be used by the prosecution in former Senate president Tan Sri Rais Yatim’s sedition trial have been handed to his defence team on Tuesday.
However, there are still several more documents pending, so Melaka Sessions Court judge Raja Noor Adilla Raja Mahyaldin has fixed Jan 12 next year for case management.
The documents were provided in accordance with Section 51A of the Criminal Procedure Code, where during pre-trial, such documents and information should be provided by the prosecution to the defence.
On Sept 25, Rais, 84, had been charged with uttering seditious words at the A Famosa Resort, Alor Gajah, Melaka, at 1pm on June 5. The former information and communications minister claimed trial.
In the prepared transcript accompanying the charge, he is alleged to have acknowledged Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Jaafar as the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan. His call to pledge allegiance to the new disputed ruler was also highlighted.
If convicted, the veteran politician may face a maximum RM5,000 fine or a maximum of three years’ imprisonment.
In Tuesday’s proceedings, Rais was represented by his son, Danni Rais, and Rafique Rashid Ali. Danni is the newly elected Klawang (Negeri Sembilan) assemblyman.
Deputy public prosecutors Nadia Mohd Izhar and Nor Azizah Aling appeared for the prosecution.
Rafique and Nadia, when separately contacted by The Edge, confirmed Tuesday’s outcome.