Dec 12 for mention of LTTE cases of Arivainthan and Balamurugan

The Sessions Court in Kuala Kangsar today fixed Dec 12 this year for mention of the cases of technician S Arivainthan and taxi driver V Balamurugan on charges of supporting terrorist group LTTE over the past five years.

Judge Rohaida Ishak set the date while waiting for reports from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and terrorism experts, following an application by lawyer Matthews Jude, who was representing both accused, to speed up the prosecution process.

On Oct 29 this year, Arivainthan, 27, and Balamurugan, 37, were charged in the Sessions Court in Kuala Kangsar with supporting LTTE since 2014.

At today’s mention, deputy public prosecutor Hasyutanti Khalil asked the court for one-and-a-half months to complete the investigations as the prosecution has yet to receive reports from MCMC and forensic experts.

However, Matthews objected to this request and asked for mention to be fixed for next week.

This follows the decision of the High Court in Kuala Lumpur yesterday to fix tomorrow for a decision on whether to allow the bail application of Gadek state assemblyman from Malacca, G Saminathan, 34, who has been detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) for alleged involvement with LTTE.

Earlier, Matthews urged the court to call the two investigating officers to explain why the reports from MCMC and forensic experts were not yet ready.

The two officers told the court that they had sent details to MCMC and the terrorism experts on Oct 30 to ask for the reports but were told by MCMC that it needed six to 12 months to complete the reports.

Matthews told the court that six to 12 months was too long a period for his clients, who are being held in the Sungai Buloh Prison in Selangor.

Arivainthan and Balamurugan are alleged to have supported LTTE at a ceremony at Kuala Kangsar Municipal Council Hall, Sungai Siput (Utara) Branch, between 6.30pm and 11.45pm on Dec 28, 2014.

Balamurugan is also charged with possession of items linked to terrorism or LTTE in a Samsung Galaxy A7 handphone at the compound of Sungai Siput (U) taxi station about 9.40am on Oct 10 this year.

He is also alleged to be in possession of and to have displayed items related to terrorism or LTTE at the premises at 52, Taman Bukit Medan, Sungai Siput (U), on the same day.

- Bernama