![Prosecutors are now looking for reporters to testify at the trial of Major Zaidi Ahmad. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, September 3, 2014.](http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/assets/uploads/articles/MAJOR_ZAIDI_AHMAD_MILITARY_COURT_100614_TMINAJJUA_05.jpg)
After seven witnesses took the stand, prosecutors in Major Zaidi Ahmad's trial today asked the court for more time to track down reporters who wrote on the air force major’s comments about the indelible ink used in the 13th general election.
Prosecutors want to trace reporters from Chinese newspapers to call them to the witness stand for articles they wrote on Zaidi’s statement that the indelible ink applied on his finger was easily washed off.
Zaidi, 45, a Royal Malaysian Air Force officer, pleaded not guilty to four counts of violating the Malaysian Armed Forces Council's orders on the use of indelible ink last year.
The officer, from the RMAF base in Butterworth, also pleaded not guilty to three other charges – for making a media statement without the authorisation of the Defence Ministry and for sending two SMSes which were political in nature.
The prosecutors said the team decided to call in new witnesses as many names on their witness list had to be dropped after their statements were found to be no longer “relevant” as the trial progressed.
Defence counsel Mohamed Hanipa Mydin said the prosecution’s argument was vague but failed to get it dismissed.
"The prosecutors had ample time to track down the reporters and this should have been done earlier. How sure are they that they can track the writer now? At the moment, they do not even have the names," said Hanipa.
The military court’s six-member panel, led by Colonel Saadon Hasnan, however, allowed the prosecution’s request and gave the team until September 12 to draw up a new list of potential witnesses.
Saadon also set October 13 as the date of the next hearing and for closing arguments by the prosecution and submission if they failed to come up with new witnesses.
Saadon was unhappy with the arguments from both sides today and asked the defence and prosecution to approach the bench for consultation.
"The court has decided to be fair to the service and also to the accused, the prosecutors have until September 12 to produce a list of potential witnesses to the panel as well as to the defence counsel,” Saadon said after deliberations with other panel members, before adjourning the trial.
- TMI
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