A defence witness in the "false news" trial of Tenaganita director Irene Fernandez told the court today that while in detention at the Kemayan illegal immigrant camp in Pahang, he was unable to get fresh clothes.

"When I asked for my belongings, I was told that I am a new inmate, so I can't get my clothes and I can only get them back after one and a half months later," said Moron Mozumder, when asked by deputy public prosecutor Ganesan Somasundram why he did not request for his clothes earlier.

Mozumder, a Bangladeshi, said that when he finally did request for his clothes a month and a half later, he was told that they were lost. He had earlier testify that he handed all his belongings to the police on arrival to the detention camp.

Later during the cross-examination, Mozumder told the court that on two separate occasions when he complained to two different commandants at the camp regarding the mosquitoes and bugs problem, the response was "if you can't sleep inside, then go and sleep outside on the ground".

The witness was speaking at the trial of women's rights activist Fernandez, who is being charged with publishing "false news" about the ill-treatment of detainees in camps for migrant workers.

Ganesan finished his cross-examination of Mozumder today and the defence notified the court that new witnesses will be called in tomorrow.

Also, during today's trial, the public prosecutor was ticked off by magistrate Juliana Mohamad for accusing the witness of lying during cross-examination.

"If you want to recall witnesses, then please do so. By all means, call any witness to rebut but refrain from using those harsh words. Don't ask him questions, then at the end of it you put it to him that he is lyin," she said.

When asked by prosecutor Ganesan if she was writing down her remarks, Juliana told him: "Yes, I am writing, Mr. Ganesan. I have been for the last three years, meticulously."

Fernandez's trial, which began in June 1996, entered its 235th day today, making it the longest trial in Malaysian legal history.