Sex bloggers get court’s nod to travel to Singapore to film life story
Sex bloggers Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee succeeded in getting back their passports from the court today, pending a trial over their controversial Ramadan "greeting" last year, as they are scheduled to travel to Singapore for the filming of a programme on their life story.
Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court judge Abdul Rashid Daud allowed the two to have their passports back until June 3, based on an application by their lawyer Chong Joo Tian.
The prosecution led by deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin did not object to the return of the passports, but asked that Tan and Lee, who are popularly known as “Alvivi”, not to comment on the pending case during the filming of the programme in Singapore.
Chong said later that the judge also waived a pre-set condition for them to report to the police station on June 1.
He said upon their return on June 3, they would have to return their passports to the court and would be required to continue reporting to the nearest police station at the beginning of each month.
Last month, the Court of Appeal struck out a charge under the Penal Code against the two sex bloggers on grounds that it was not applicable to non-Muslims.
The charge under Section 298 – for stirring hostility between religions – was struck out on the grounds that the law was meant to ensure the smoothness of the practice of Islam among its followers, not those of other religions.
However, Tan and Lee still face two other charges under the Film Censorship Act and Sedition Act for allegedly publishing a photograph with the comment "Selamat Berbuka Puasa (dengan bak kut teh... wangi, enak, menyelerakan)" which contained a halal logo and allegedly seditious statements, and for displaying pornographic images on their blog.
The duo's postings on July 11 last year triggered furious reactions from Malaysians of all races, following which they removed the posting and uploaded a new picture of them eating ketupat, rendang and curry puffs.
However, the Facebook page was later removed.
The trial date at the Sessions Court has yet to be fixed as the Attorney-General's Chambers is appealing against the Court of Appeal decision on Section 298 of the Penal Code. – May 12, 2014.
