KUALA LUMPUR: The hearing on two charges faced by former sex-bloggers Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee related to their "Bak Kut Teh" Hari Raya greeting is scheduled on July 13, 14, and 15, despite the fact that Tan has jumped bail.
Sessions Court judge Abdul Rashid Daud fixed the date after dismissing the former lovers' counsel Nur Adilah Kamarzaman's application for a stay of proceeding pending the disposal of Universiti Malaya law professor Dr Azmi Sharom's case under the Sedition Act at the Federal Court.
The charges were related to their photo uploaded on their Facebook page during the fasting month of Ramadhan and another for allegedly displaying pornographic pictures on their Facebook account.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Yong Ann Nee submitted that the application before the court was irrelevant as it has nothing to do with the case.
Four to five prosecution witnesses will be called to the stand to testify.
On Feb 18, the Federal Court dismissed the prosecutions’ appeal to reinstate the ex-couple's charge of causing religious enmity ruling that it has no jurisdiction to hear the case.
The Court of Appeal had on April 21, last year, struck out the charge under Section 289A (causing religious enmity) of the Penal Code against the duo ruling that it was not applicable to non-Muslims.
Tan and Lee were accused of publishing religiously insensitive pictures, inciting contents, and displaying pornographic pictures on their blog.
On July 18, 2013, the duo claimed trial at the Sessions Court to three charges under the Penal Code 289A (1)(a), the Film Censorship Act, and Sedition Act.
The ex-couple had uploaded on their Facebook posting dated July 11, 2013 , featuring the both of them eating Bak Kut Teh (a popular pork dish in Malaysia which is non-halal) where the picture includes Ramadan greeting “Selamat Berbuka Puasa” with a Halal logo added on the left bottom corner of the picture which attracted angry Malaysians on Facebook.