Eight more Malaysians acquitted on LTTE link charges

Eight men in Malaysia including Gadek assemblyman G. Saminathan were today acquitted and discharged on charges related to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) terrorist group, NNN-BERNAMA reported.

Four separate high courts in Malaysia ordered the release after a deputy public prosecutor informed that the Attorney General had instructed to discontinue proceedings against all the accused, in accordance with Section 254 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Besides?Saminathan, 35, the other seven are technician?S. Arivainthan, 28; security guard, M. Pumugan, 30; DAP member, V. Suresh Kumar, 44; ?Melaka Green Technology Corporation chief executive officer, S. Chandru, 39; teacher, Sundram Renggan @ Rengasamy, 53;?scrap metal collector, A. Kalaimughilan, 29 and?despatch rider, S. Teeran, 39.

All of them?were charged with knowingly?supporting the?LTTE terrorist group through the Facebook application and?attending?the group?s related?event.

The charge, under Section?130J (1) (a) of the Penal Code carries a maximum jail term of 30 years, or a fine, and forfeiture of any property used or intended to be used for the offence, upon conviction.

Some of them were also charged with?possessing LTTE-related items?under Section 130JB (1) (a) of the Penal Code which provides for a maximum jail term of seven years, or a fine, and forfeiture of any of the items if convicted.

Yesterday, Seremban Jaya assemblyman?P. Gunasekaren and taxi driver?V. Balamurugan were also acquitted and discharged from the same charges.

This brings the total number of individuals who have been freed from the charges to 10 while two other accused?storekeeper,?S. Thanagaraj, 27, and businessman?B. Subramaniam, 58, will be brought to court in the near future before being released.

All of them were?detained under?Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA) and were placed?in Sungai Buloh prison?pending?their?trials.?Under SOSMA they were?denied bail.

Their cases have not been heard and they are?still awaiting case management.?However, the High Court had fixed trial for the cases.

Attorney General Tan Sri Tommy Thomas in a statement issued on?Feb 21 decided to?discontinue proceedings against the 12 accused on the grounds that?there was?no realistic prospect of conviction for any of them?on any of the 34 charges brought against them.