TAXI driver V. Balamurugan, who was today acquitted and discharged on five counts of supporting the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), has proceeded with his leave application for a judicial review to delist it from being gazetted as a terrorist group.

His lawyer, Matthews Jude, said it is important to get a court declaration on the matter.

“A court declaration is important to stop investigation and prosecution against anyone who shows sympathy to LTTE.

“We just want a court order to direct the minister to delist LTTE as a terror group,” he told reporters after case management, which was held in chambers before Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mariana Yahya, today.

He said the court set June 2 to hear the application, in which the home minister and government are named as the first and second respondents, respectively.

Balamurugan is seeking a declaration that the LTTE detail in the gazette is null and void, and the listing of the group is unlawful as it is ultra vires the federal constitution, as well as for a certiorari order to quash the listing of LTTE in the gazette.

He was acquitted and discharged on the five charges by high court judge Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh after the prosecution told the court that it had received instructions from the Attorney-General’s Chambers to drop the said charges. – Bernama, February 24, 2020.