The trial of labour rights activist Irene Fernandez for allegedly publishing false information relating to the deaths of inmates at immigration detention camps is set to resume tomorrow after a pause of 20 months.

The case is to be heard at the Kuala Lumpur Magistrates Court for a period of more than two weeks, ending Jan 31, during which more defence witnesses are expected to testify.

Up till May 2001, when the case was last heard, the prosecution has called a total of 35 witnesses while four witnesses had testified for the defence.

The latter four, who are Bangladeshi nationals, gave the court graphic details of their experience while in detention some eight years ago. These included testimony on alleged beatings by the police and on inmates being subjected to acts of sexual perversion.

The trial was later postponed due to the inability of the court to provide a Bengali interpreter for the testimony of other Bangladeshi witnesses.