KUALA LUMPUR: Hindraf legal adviser M. Manoharan’s habeas corpus hearing has been adjourned to Nov 12, as he wants to conduct the application himself.
Manoharan’s counsel S.R. Sreedevi Naidu said that he had applied for the adjournment which was granted by High Court Justice Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah.
“He wrote to the Home Ministry in a letter dated Sept 15 to apply for him to appear in court to conduct his own habeas corpus application.
“He was informed that his application had been rejected Monday evening, with the reason being that he is a threat to national security,” she told the press Tuesday. She added that the letter was faxed directly to him in Kamunting.
Sreedevi added that in the 1980s, lawyer Karpal Singh had also made such an application during his detention under ISA and it was granted.
“If Karpal Sigh was allowed, why is this application not allowed?” she said.
Karpal Singh, who was also in court Tuesday, also said that the Home Ministry should allow Manoharan to represent himself in court as there was a precedent set by him in 1988.
In his application, Manoharan, who is also the Kota Alam Shah assemblyman, had also requested that he be allowed to attend the Selangor State Legislative Assembly sittings as a six-month absence from the sittings would result in the seat being declared vacant.
In his letter to the detention camp director, he said that he also “does not wish to apply for leave” as advised, as he had “no reason to apply for leave”.
LISA GOH
Star Online
23/09/08
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