Clare’s slander tarnishes the good name of the Sultanate of Terengganu

KUALA TERENGGANU: The actions of the founder and editor of Sarawak Report, Clare Rewcastle-Brown slander in the book titled, ‘The Sarawak Report-The Inside Story of 1MDB Expose’ has tarnished the good name of Sultanah Terengganu Sultanah Nur Zahirah in the country’s biggest scandal.

Through the reasoning of the judgment which was uploaded in the court system on Tuesday, Magistrate, Nik Mohd Tarmizie Nik Mohd Shukri said, based on the evidence presented by the prosecution witnesses, the court was satisfied that Clare’s accusation, 65, against the Sultanah of Terengganu was slanderous.

According to him, it could cause his good name and reputation to be tarnished because the slander has linked Sultanah Nur Zahirah’s involvement with the fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho or better known as Jho Low.

The controversial businessman was involved in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.
He said, the accusations thrown by this British citizen, created a bad perception and affected the reputation of the Sultanate of Terengganu.

“The defamation also reflects his attitude of disrespecting the Royal Institution, even though the Sultanah of Terengganu has a special position and is held in high esteem by the people as the queen of the state.

“The prosecution narrative states that the Sultanah of Terengganu has never at any time been involved directly or otherwise, in government administration affairs, particularly the establishment of TIA (Terengganu Investment Authority) or known, or had a relationship with Jho Low,” he said.

He said that the British citizen also did not attend the trial in this country and this reflects his attitude of disrespecting the country’s legal system even though the Constitution clearly protects individual rights.

Because the trial was conducted “in absentia” or without the presence of the accused, he said, the court had no choice to convict and punish him.

This magistrate said that Clare’s reaction, who escaped from facing charges after communicating with the investigating officer and only represented a lawyer to file a notice of motion at the Kuala Lumpur High Court, showed his behavior in the case.

According to him, Clare also dared to issue a statement in the news on a portal, showing that he had full knowledge of the case.

On February 7, the Magistrate’s Court here sentenced Clare to two years in prison for allegedly defaming Sultanah Nur Zahirah.

Clare, who has an address in the United Kingdom (UK), is accused of committing the act at 8 am, 14 September 2018 at Taman Chendering Utama, here, according to Section 500 of the Penal Code.

Clare appealed to set aside the conviction and jail term and the High Court here fixed Thursday for case management.

On May 7, Judge, Datuk Hassan Abdul Ghani ordered the author to attend the management of his appeal case on that day.

Clare was charged in the Kuala Terengganu Magistrate’s Court on 23 September 2021 without her presence.

However, the Kuala Lumpur High Court on June 21 last year rejected his application to transfer the case here.