Taxi driver linked to LTTE makes bid to delist it as terrorist org

Taxi driver V Balamurugan, who was today acquitted and discharged on five charges of supporting LTTE went ahead with his leave application for judicial review to delist it from being gazetted as a terrorist group.

Balamurugan's (above) lawyer, Matthews Jude, said it was important to get a court declaration on the matter.

"A court declaration is important to stop investigation and prosecution against anyone who showed sympathy to the LTTE.

“We just want a court order to direct the minister to delist the LTTE as a terror group," he told reporters when met after case management, which was held in chambers before High Court judge Mariana Yahya today.

He said the court set June 2 to hear the application.

In the application, Balamurugan named the home minister and the government as the first and second respondents, respectively.

He is seeking a declaration that the LTTE detail in the gazette as null and void and the listing of LTTE was unlawful as it was ultra vires to the Federal Constitution, and for a certiorari order to quash the listing of LTTE in the gazette, Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities (Declaration of Specified Entities and Reporting Requirements (Amendment) 2014; dated Nov 12, 2014.

Balamurugan was acquitted and discharged on five charges with supporting LTTE earlier today by High Court judge Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh after the prosecution informed the court that they received instruction from the Attorney-General's Chamber to drop the charges against the accused.

- Bernama