By Pei Hu
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – On October 6th, Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin went on trial for “sedition.” Petra is a well known journalist and blogger for Malaysia Today. His article, Let’s Send the Altantuya Murderers to Hell, published earlier this year, accused the Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, of murdering a young Mongolian woman, Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Petra’s article claims Razak and his wife plotted Altantuya’s murder after she demanded money from Razak to end their extramarital affair. Currently, two police officers, a think-tank director, and close friend of Razak are on trial for collaborating the murder of Altantuya.

Petra has been in jail since September 12th under the Internal Security Act (ISA).  Under the ISA, Petra has to serve a two year sentence for “insulting a political leader” and “insulting Islam.”

If Petra is found guilty of sedition, he can be incarcerated for another three years. “They are penalizing him twice… It’s double jeopardy,” Marina, Petra’s wife, told reporters of the Associated Press.

Many supporters showed up outside the district court, wearing T-shirts that bore the slogan “Free RPK.” The Worldwide Press Freedom Organization said the Malaysian government is using the judiciary for their own means, “The government is abusing the law in order to silence critical voices and to gag free expression.”

For more information, please see:

BBC – Malaysia Writer in Sedition Trial – 6 October 2008

Malaysia Today – Suffering the ISA – 8 October 2008

Reporters without Borders – Blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin Goes on Trial for “Sedition” – 6 October 2008