SARAWAK Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown today branded the arrest warrant issued against her in absentia by a Terengganu court as a total breach of procedure as she was not notified of the charge and hearing. 

The Kuala Terengganu magistrates’ court today issued an arrest warrant against Rewcastle-Brown for failing to turn up in court to face a charge for defaming the Sultanah of Terengganu, Sultanah Nur Zahirah. 

“I was given no notice of the charge or the date of the hearing, although the authorities know perfectly well how to contact me as I had received a warning that charges would be issued some weeks ago… not what the charges would be or where or when they would be issued,” she told The Malaysian Insight. 

She said she has also made it clear that she was not currently in Malaysia and would not be in the country in the foreseeable future. 

“So clearly it was a total breach of procedure to issue an arrest warrant against me for not appearing to face charges. I was also not made aware of the hearing as I was given no notice of,” she said. 

She said an advice sheet informing her of the location of Terengganu and its court, travel directions and a translated copy of the case details would have “been a basic requirement” to predicate an arrest warrant. 

“I wish the magistrate of this court every luck in pursuing his case to extradite me from the UK to face foreign charges for a crime that does not exist in my own country,” she said. 

According to reports, Rewcastle-Brown was supposed to appear in court today to face a charge under Section 500 of the Penal Code for making a disparaging statement about Sultanah Nur Zahirah in her book, The Sarawak Report – The Inside Story of the 1MDB Expose.

The suit was filed by Sultanah Nur Zahirah on November 21, 2018.

The sultanah claimed that the disparaging statement by Rewcastle-Brown could be taken to mean that she was involved in corrupt practices and interfered in Terengganu’s administration besides using her status to influence the establishment of Terengganu Investment Authority, which later became 1Malaysia Development Bhd. 

The warrant was issued by magistrate Nordiana Abd Aziz following an application by the prosecution.

The court has set November 23 for mention. – September 23, 2021.