K'tan sultan to pursue habeas corpus application

Lawyers for Kelantan Sultan Tuanku Ismail Petra said that his habeas corpus application before the Special Court was not academic, though he was no longer "held" at a hospital in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan.

Met after the case management process at the Palace of Justice this morning, counsel Mohd Haaziq Pillay ( right ) said that the matter will be pursued and the Sultan hopes that the matter will be heard soon.

He said that the Special Court would be conducting further case management on Sept 17, where affidavits would be submitted in reply to affidavits by the respondents, which includes the inspector-general of police and the Kelantan police chief.

"We just received affidavits from the respondents and I have received instructions to reply," said Haaziq, adding that he was legally bound from divulging details of the affidavits.

The matter appeared before deputy registrar Hamri Thamri Mohamad today. Appearing for the respondents was senior federal counsel Kamaluddin Md Said.

On May 7, the Sultan's third son Tengku Muhammad Fakhry Petra filed the habeas corpus application on behalf of his father after he was held at the hospital on May 4.

The application was designed to compel the authorities to show cause for any detention.

Ambushed outside palace

The Sultan's entourage was allegedly ambushed by rifle-toting and balaclava-clad police officers outside the palace while en route to the airport.

He was supposed to have boarded a flight to Singapore, prepared by the federal government, for medical treatment.

Following this, his high profile team of lawyers filed the habeas corpus application because they were satisfied that he was being held against his will.

The hearing was supposed to commence on May 10, but was adjourned after the quorum of five judges were not met.

The panel is led by Chief Justice Zaki Azmi and includes Chief Judge of Malaya Arifin Zakaria, Federal Court Judge Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin and acting Chief Judge of Borneo Linton Albert.