Defence for Major Zaidi calls for court to be dissolved

KUALA LUMPUR: The defence for Major Zaidi Ahmad has called for the court to be dissolved following the discovery of a comment made by a member of the panel in an online news portal.
Defence lead Hanipa Maidin said the comment indicates an element of real bias and disrupts real justice.
Under the article titled 'Kasalahan Major Zaidi Hanya Berani' by Malaysia Kini on Oct 20, a comment was published by a profile under the name Saadon Tson on Oct 21 saying 'Klu tak nak jadi tentera duk kampung motong getah jer'.
When investigated, the profile name Saadon T'son had photos and details pertaining to Court Martial president Colonel Saadon Hasnan.
However, after Major Zaidi lodged a complain to the No 1 Commander of Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) on Nov 4 at the Sungai Besi Camp, the comment disappeared and the profile was deactivated.
The courtroom turned chaotic after Defence submitted their application to court.
The prosecution objected to the submission saying that it should have been done earlier.
"Should the Defence object to the panel, they should have submitted their application earlier. Instead, they are doing this on the spot, taking the court by surprise. They are trying to delay the trial," said Major Ahmad Azam Soip, for the prosecution.
The usually cool headed Colonel Saadon raised his voice and banged on the table to get Hanipa to sit.
"Enough! Sit!" Saadon boomed as Hanipa was trying to rebut the accusation made by the prosecutor that Defence was only trying to delay the court.
Hanipa said that the prosecutions accusation was unfair and demanded them to retract and apologise as they only knew about the posting on Nov 1.
The court adjourned for 30 minutes to allow the panel to discuss the latest development.
Later, it was decided that the court will be submitting the application made by the Defence to the Convening Authority to deliberate if the court should indeed be dissolved.
The prosecution apologised and retracted their statement accusing the Defence of trying to delay the trial.
"The comment was made before the decision for prima facie was made asking Major Zaidi to enter defence. This leads us to question the whole trial as he (Saadon) is involved in the decision making process," Hanipa told the media outside the courtroom.
He said his counsel is worried if he would be given a fair trial.
"We don't have a choice but to call for the court to be dissolved. If they refuse our application, we will have to call the presiding officer as a witness," Hanipa added.
Court to continue on Nov 24.