"Let the truth come out," says Marina
KeADILan supporters denied entry as court begins Marina's sedition trial
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| Marina in the dock: alleged to have blamed UMNO for triggering May 13 |
BUTTERWORTH, 17 Apr (Aliran) - KeADILan vice-president Marina Yusoff today found herself on the wrong side of the bench when she appeared before court in Butterworth charged for sedition.
Marina, a former magistrate in Butterworth, stepped into the accused dock in the packed courtroom just before 11 a.m. She is alleged to have blamed UMNO for the May 13, 1969 bloodshed during last November's general election campaign.
''Let the truth come out,'' a serene-looking Marina told Aliran before the hearing began. She was accompanied by Penang keADILan chief Dr Mansor Othman. Representing her as lead defence counsel is former Bar Council chairman Raja Aziz Addruse.
A strong police presence was visible inside and outside the Butterworth court complex. A group of three or four police personnel stood guard at the main gate and denied entry to many of Marina's supporters. KeADILan officials complained that from 20 to 50 of their supporters were denied entry.
When asked why the public was being denied entry to the court premises, a police personnel at the gate said that they had "arahan dari atas" (orders from above).
The proceedings are likely to draw public interest as they will probably focus on different versions of the events leading up to the May 13 unrest, which left scores dead.
The sedition charge carries a fine of 5,000 ringgit or three years' jail or both. Barring any postponement, the court is expected to hear the case for four days beginning today.