RPK a free man after apex court strikes out ministry's appeal

RPK - what took so long and why now?

PUTRAJAYA - Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin is a free man after the Federal Court on Monday struck off the Home Minister's appeal over his release under a habeas corpus application.

The ruling was made after the parties told the apex court that the two-year old detention order had lapsed.

Raja Petra was detained under the Internal Security Act for 56 days but in November 2008 Shah Alam High Court Justice Syed Ahmad Helmy Syed Ahmad allowed his habeas corpus application saying that the Home Minister had acted outside his powers.

The judge had held that although a Section 8 detention order barred judicial review, a procedural non-compliance by the Minister had resulted in making the order “ultra vires”.

Then Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid appealed the Shah Alam High Court decision. - Star

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