12 charged for ‘LTTE links’ might not get fair trial

<p>Lawyers expressed concern that the 12 people&nbsp;charged for alleged ‘LTTE links’ may not get a fair trial.</p> <p>Speaking to Malaysiakini, lawyer New Sin Yew said, “When someone is charged for terrorism-related offences, their criminal trial is governed by SOSMA, which is different from a normal criminal trial.’</p> <p>He added that SOSMA takes away many safeguards for a fair trial under the Criminal Procedure Code and the Evidence Act, therefore favouring the prosecution.</p> <p>R Sivananthan, another lawyer said that in during the trial, a witness will be able to give hearsay evidence in court which is admissible under the (existing) SOSMA Act,” he said. Hearsay evidence means “a report of another person’s words by a witness,’ Malaysiakini reported.</p> <p>Malaysian security forces arrested 12 men last month, including two Democratic Action Party (DAP) assemblymen, claiming that they were linked to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which remains a proscribed organisation in the country.</p> <p>Read more <a href="https://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/?p=179236">here</a>.&nbsp;</p>