Rewcastle-Brown ordered to attend defamation appeal proceedings

 

The Kuala Terengganu High Court has ordered Clare Rewcastle-Brown, founder and editor of Sarawak Report, to appear in court for the case management of her appeal to overturn her conviction and two-year prison sentence for defaming the Sultanah of Terengganu, Sultanah Nur Zahirah.

Judge Hassan Abdul Ghani issued the directive to the British national during management proceedings of her appeal today.

The Kuala Terengganu Magistrate’s Court had, on Feb 7, found Rewcastle-Brown guilty under Section 500 of the Penal Code.

“Is the appellant present?” Hassan asked lawyer Guok Ngek Seong, representing Rewcastle-Brown before Guok confirmed that his client was not.

Guok said through an appeal notice submitted on Feb 8, they have also requested a review of the case, claiming that the previous decision of the Magistrate’s Court was flawed.

Additionally, they have yet to receive the appeal records from the Magistrate’s Court.

Difficulties finding a lawyer

Guok requested that the next case management be conducted online because he is in Kuala Lumpur and is facing difficulties in finding a lawyer in Kuala Terengganu.

In her previous application, Rewcastle-Brown had appealed for an exemption from attending the appeal hearing.

Sultanah Nur Zahirah

“I direct you to ensure the appellant’s presence in court. There will be no Zoom or any other virtual proceedings,” said Hassan before scheduling the next case management for June 6.

On Feb 7, the Magistrate’s Court sentenced Rewcastle-Brown to two years in prison after finding her guilty of defaming Sultanah Nur Zahirah.

According to the charge, Rewcastle-Brown, who resides in London, United Kingdom, wrote a book titled “The Sarawak Report: The Inside Story of 1MDB Expose”, which contains accusations against the Terengganu sultanah.

The defamatory statement highlighted on page three, paragraph four, line seven, was “the wife of the sultan”, which Rewcastle-Brown knew would tarnish the reputation of Sultanah Nur Zahirah.

She was charged with committing the offence at Lot 60048, Taman Chendering Utama at 8am, Sept 14, 2018, under Section 500 of the Penal Code which provides for a prison sentence of up to two years or a fine or both.

- Bernama