Malaysian court rejects HINDRAF leader's application for release

Kuala Lumpur, Sept.17 : Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF) legal adviser P. Uthayakumar's bid to get a court order for his release on the grounds of medical neglect and endangerment of his life, has failed.

High Court judge Justice Suraya Othman on Wednesday dismissed his habeas corpus application for his release.

Last week, the Ipoh High Court rejected the habeas corpus applications of the five HINDRAF leaders - Uthayakumar, M. Manoharan, V. Ganabatirau, K. Vasantha Kumar and R. Kenghadaran - seeking their release from detention.

Last month, Malaysia's Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail and Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan said that Uthayakumar does not have the right to claim RM 100 million for defamation.

Uthayakumar had filed for a RM 100 million defamation suit on January 4 against the government, Musa and Gani, for allegedly linking him with terrorist groups.

He alleged that the statement by Musa, which he claimed defamed him, was made to prevent feelings of hatred towards the government and avoid racial conflict.

According to the New Straits Times, the defendants have been claiming that the HINDRAF gathering on November 25 last year was held despite the police warning them not to do so.

Musa claimed that Uthayakumar''s detention was lawful and done according to the Internal Security Act 1960.

Gani also claimed that Uthayakumar is making up a story saying that his (Gani''s) statement published in a Malay daily on December 8 last year, referred to him.

Gani and Musa had requested to the High Court to strike out the defamation suit filed against them on the grounds that HINDRAF and Uthayakumar were two different entities and that their (the defendants) statements did not refer to Uthayakumar.

Uthayakumar also claimed that the statements of the defendants published by the media had meant that he was a terrorist.

ANI