GEORGE TOWN – The Penang High Court today issued an interim gag order against activist Arun Dorasamy in relation to the T. Nhaveen murder trial.
Judge Mohd Radzi Abdul Hamid made the decision after listening to arguments from the activist’s lawyer and prosecution team during the four-hour hearing.
Radzi said Arun is prohibited from making any post on social media or in any medium – either orally or in writing – and allowed to contact or meet the public prosecutor only for good purposes.
“If it fails, it will be an insult to the court. Please respect the interim order because the court needs to be respected. This directive is effective until a decision is made on August 5.”
On June 18, the prosecution filed a gag order against Arun, who was accused of criticising its credibility on social media and claiming to have new evidence in the case.
Lawyers Sachpreetraj Singh, Rajesh Nagarajan and Arun Ganesh Boopalan represented Arun. The trio also observed the proceedings on behalf of Nhaveen’s family.
The prosecution team is led by state prosecution director Datuk Khairul Anuar Abdul Halim, as well as deputy public prosecutors Mohd Amril Johari and Yazid Mustaqim Roslan.
The hearing became heated when Amril, in his argument, asserted that the defendant’s affidavit claiming that he had refused to meet witnesses is untrue.
“I met (D.) Shanti before she testified. I met her here, and it can be proven through CCTV in this court.
“I am sorry to say this, but Shanti lied as she claimed that I have never met her at all,” he loudly told the court.
However, Shanti, who is Nhaveen’s mother and was seated in the gallery, suddenly replied: “I am not lying.”
An irate Amril, in response, told Shanti to stop before Radzi proceeded to calm the former down.
After regaining his composure, Amril clarified that as a part of the prosecution team, he cannot personally meet anyone as he does not represent the victim’s family, but the public.
“To label us as having failed and refusing to meet witnesses is a speculation made by the respondent.”
Rajesh, in response, told the court that Arun’s purpose is to gain the public’s attention so that justice will be served.
“The defendant is a social media influencer. He only did this for justice, and wants to help the victim’s family.”
The atmosphere took a tense turn when Maanveer Singh Dhillon, the lawyer of one of the accused, became furious after spotting T. Previin, the star witness of the murder trial, in the gallery.
Maanveer said the absence of the witness from the trial earlier this month caused the case to be postponed for a month.
“I am very disappointed because we all came to risk ourselves to attend the trial, but he (Previin) did not attend. At least, please respect the court.”
However, Radzi said he will not proceed to debate on Previin’s attendance, causing Maanveer to storm out of the court.
J. Ragesuthen and S. Gokulan, both 18, and two others, aged 17 and one who turned 18 in July, 2017, were charged with murdering Nhaveen between 11pm and midnight on June 9, 2017, near the Karpal Singh Penang Learning Centre in Jalan Kaki Bukit, Bukit Gelugor.
They were charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the mandatory death penalty upon conviction. – The Vibes, July 28, 2021
