PETALING JAYA, 11 Nov 2008: Malaysia-Today editor Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin could have deleted evidence contained in his notebook computer by using the Clean It software, the Sessions Court was told today.
The prosecution’s seventh witness, ASP Waie Isqal Kria Abdullah from the computer forensics investigation unit at the Federal Police headquarters (Bukit Aman), said he arrived at the opinion based on the analysis report done on Raja Petra’s notebook computer.
According to the report, there were no records of the computer accessing the Malaysia-Today website between 11 April and 26 April this year.
“When the Clean It program is used, all data stored in ‘unallocated clusters’, which is another program to hold active files that have been deleted, will be erased,” he said.
Raja Petra, 58, is being tried for allegedly publishing seditious articles on the website.
He is alleged to have committed the offence at his house at No. 5, Jalan BRP 5/5, Bukit Rahman Putra, Sungai Buloh. The alleged seditious article titled Let’s Send the Altantuya Murderers to Hell was posted on the website www.malaysia-today.net on 25 April.
He has been charged under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948, which provides for a maximum fine of RM5,000 or three years jail or both, if convicted.
Meanwhile, Judge Rozina Ayob said she would decide tomorrow whether to allow an application by the prosecution to have Waie analyse other folders that were found in the central processing unit (CPU) of Raja Petra’s notebook computer.
Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Ishak Mohd Yusof had cited Section 425 of the Criminal Procedure Code in making the application, saying analysing the folders had an important bearing on the case, both for the prosecution and defence.
However, Raja Petra’s counsel J Chandra objected, saying this did not fall under the scope of the trial. — Bernama
