E Contrario

This morning was the judgement day for Azmin Ali.

The delivery of the verdict has been delayed several times. However it has been a long wait for Azmin. Azmin was charged in 1999. The case was heard before Judge Hamdan who ruled that the prosecutor had failed to establish a prima facie case against Azmin. The AG filed an appeal against the decision and Hamdan was transferred to Pahang.

In 2000, the High Court judge Abdul Wahab Patail, who is the current Attorney General Gani Patail’s brother, ordered Azmin to enter his defence in the Sessions Court. Session Court judge Akhtar Tahir convicted Azmin for perjury, i.e. giving false statements in Anwar’s trial.

The conviction carries 18 month imprisonment. Azmin’s conviction was one of the series of victimization against KeADILan. In 2004 election, three of KeADILan national leaders: Azmin, Ezam and Irene Fernandez were barred from contesting at the eve of election. The three were found guilty of criminal charges respectively.

We waited in Court from 10:00hr. The court finally called to session at 11:00hr. Judge Kadir Musa seemed to be in cheerful mood. The judge took about 30 minutes to read his full statement. I could see Azmin was tense. But my hunch was that we would win this one.

At the final minutes of the delivery, Judge Kadir Musa requested Azmin to stand to hear his fate. He reiterated that he fully agreed with the judgement by Hamdan that there was no prima facie case in the first place, thus Azmin was announced free.

Instantly the fully seated court room was filled with joy. The supporters cheered and clapped. The judge humbly and rhetorically said: “I don’t need that, in this case there is no winner or loser, at the end the winner is Justice!”

The judge then stood down. Defence Council Christopher Fernandez raised his hands and we clapped again.

The battle took nearly ten years. Finally the victory belonged to those upholding justice.

Our journey ahead is still arduous, but I sense that the wind has started to turn!