The prime minister's press secretary told the High Court in Kuala Lumpur today that he could not recall sedition charges brought against blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin for allegedly linking Najib Abdul Razak to the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibu.

Tengku Sariffuddin Tengku Ahmad said this during cross-examination by lawyer Mohd Haniff Khatri Abdulla.

Haniff was questioning Tengku Sariffuddin for using Raja Petra as a source for a series of allegedly defamatory statements suggesting that Bersatu deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir was conspiring with his father Mahathir Mohamad to topple Najib.

When Tengku Sariffuddin said he was unsure about the sedition charges against the blogger, Haniff, representing Mukhriz, asked him to read out an excerpt from a May 7, 2008 posting which detailed the court case.

Haniff: At the time, what was your occupation?
Tengku Sariffuddin: I was press secretary to the deputy prime minister.

Haniff: Who was the deputy prime minister then?
Tengku Sariffuddin: Datuk Seri Najib

Haniff: The allegations against Raja Petra were about the killing of Altantuya?
Tengku Sariffuddin: Agreed.

Haniff: Who was the politician accused of the murder?
Tengku Sariffuddin: Najib.

Haniff: If Najib was accused of being involved, how can you not know (of the charge)?
Tengku Sariffuddin: I can't recall.

Haniff: You can't recall?
Tengku Sariffuddin: I can't recall.

Najib's aide said he was also unaware that Raja Petra was a fugitive of the law.

"I don't know, I only know that he does not stay here," he stated. 

Raja Petra had fled Malaysia sometime in 2009 amid the trial for his sedition case. He is currently residing in the UK.

Meanwhile, in a related matter, Justice Ahmad Zaidee Ibrahim dismissed Mukhriz's bid to cite Umno supreme council member Abdul Aziz Kaprawi for contempt.

Ahmad Zaidee said Aziz's remarks did not constitute contempt of court, and neither did it seek to influence the court's decision.

"I find that just because there are comments related to the proceedings, does not mean the comment is in contempt of court, otherwise journalists would not be able to write about the cases," he said in his brief judgement.

Ahmad Zaidee made no order as to costs.

Aziz made his comments on Mukhriz's suit against Tengku Sarifuddin on July 13 and 14 last year – two days after the trial had commenced.

Aziz had said it was clear from the testimony of Mukhriz that the Bersatu leader had conspired with party president Muhyiddin Yassin and Mahathir to topple the prime minister.