Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown appeals against jail sentence

KUALA LUMPUR: Clare Rewcastle-Brown, who was sentenced to two years' jail in absentia on Wednesday (Feb 7), is appealing against her sentence and conviction.

The Sarawak Report editor's lawyer Guok Ngek Seong said he had received instructions from her to file an appeal in the High Court.

He said his client also urged the judge to invoke his revisionary power to correct what she described as a grossly illegal and irregular order.

According to a news portal report, Guok said he would file the application on Thursday (Feb 8) to claim that the Kuala Terengganu Magistrate's Court had, in delivering its verdict and imposing the sentence, violated Section 425A (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

He claimed the police knew his client's whereabouts in London but did not take steps to bring her to Malaysia, and pointed out that the hearing against an accused person could only proceed in their absence if they absconded after claiming trial.

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Terengganu Sultanah Nur Zahirah filed a defamation suit against Rewcastle-Brown on Nov 21, 2018 claiming defamatory allegations and insinuations that she was involved in corrupt practices and had used her influence in the establishment of the Terengganu Investment Authority, which later became known as 1MDB.

Rewcastle-Brown, 65, was previously charged with criminal defamation in the Kuala Terengganu Magistrate's Court in absentia on Sept 23, 2021.

Magistrate Nik Mohd Tarmizie Nik Mohd Shukri found Rewcastle-Brown guilty on Wednesday and ordered the sentence to take effect immediately.

DPPs Engku Ahmad Rashdi Engku Abdillah, Mohd Khairuddin Idris and Nur Amalina Najwa Mohd Ali appeared for the prosecution.