Stop making speculative statements-- Riduan legal counsel

The legal counsel for Riduan Masmud, who was charged under Section 376 of the Penal Code (Statutory Rape) before the Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court recently in a case which has received widespread media coverage, wants all parties concerned to immediately cease making any statements that are defamatory of him.

Loretto S. Padua, who is representing Riduan, said his client found it extremely unfair in that he had been "tried by the media and found guilty by the readers" even before the trial in court had begun.

"He is innocent until proven guilty by the court of law, and this is the unequivocal principle of our criminal justice system to which every accused in a criminal case is entitled," he said in a statement after being instructed by his client, in Kota Kinabalu, Thursday.

Loretto said his client fould it extremely prejudicial that the public prosecutor had gone public with the revelation and introduction of some evidence that was now said to be still under investigation at this stage when he had already faced the charge in court.

"My client, therefore reserves his rights to commence legal action in the matters thereof," he added.

The accused was charged on Feb 28 with raping a girl, aged 12 years and six months, inside a car parked by the roadside in Inanam near here at 10am on Feb 18.

Continuation of the hearing of the case is set for July 1-4.