PETALING JAYA: Prominent blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin yesterday pleaded not guilty to sedition over an article he allegedly published on his website linking the Malaysian deputy prime minister to a murder case.

Dressed in jeans and flip-flops, an unshaven Raja Petra, better known as RPK, arrived in handcuffs for the trial at the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court at 8.30am.

Dozens of his supporters turned up outside the court, wearing red and black T-shirts with slogans such as 'I'm with RPK', and 'Free RPK'.

The 58-year-old blogger, who is already being detained without trial in a separate case under the Internal Security Act (ISA), was charged with sedition in May.

He had allegedly posted an article, entitled 'Let's Send the Altantuya Murderers to Hell', on his popular anti-government Malaysia Today website in April.

Among other things, the article implied that Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor were involved in the killing of Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu. Mr Najib has denied any links with the Mongolian woman.

Ms Altantuya's gruesome death is now the subject of a court case that has been going on for over a year.

Mr Najib's close friend, Abdul Razak Baginda, is on trial for abetting the murder, and two police officers from an elite unit that guards the prime minister and his deputy are charged with the killing.

'I claim trial,' a tired-looking Raja Petra told the court.

Yesterday's trial started with the first witness, Mr Harme Mohd, an information technology expert from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, explaining about websites and other related technical details.

In the following days, the prosecution hopes to establish that Raja Petra is responsible for publishing the offending article.

'Today, we are just laying the groundwork for what is to come,' government prosecutor Farhan Read told reporters.

But before the prosecution has even begun to establish its case, the defence yesterday pointed out a possible loophole.

Counsel J. Chandra told the court a computer forensics report conducted by the police on a computer seized from Raja Petra showed there was no activity to access his Malaysia Today website on April 25, the day he is accused of publishing the article. This means the prosecution may not have the evidence to prove he is guilty of the charge.

'Anybody could have posted the article. They have not established who is the author of the article and who is the owner of the website,' Mr Chandra told The Straits Times. If convicted, Raja Petra faces a RM5,000 (S$2,100) fine or up to three years imprisonment or both.

Prosecutors say the hearing will continue at least until Friday, with seven prosecution witnesses being called to testify. The court will then decide whether the prosecution has a case and if the defence will be called.

Last month, Raja Petra was arrested under the ISA for publishing articles that the government says created racial tension.

Although he looked a little frail when he first entered court, Raja Petra later smiled cheerfully and joked with his family and friends. He told reporters he spent his time reading while in solitary confinement at the Kamunting detention centre for ISA detainees. 'I read, and I dream of the day the government will be brought down and we abolish all draconian laws.'

His wife, Ms Marina Lee Abdullah, said he would not be cowed into silence, and urged the government to abandon its use of the ISA. 'He is not giving up. He is not a threat to security. If he has done wrong, charge him in court. Do not detain him under the ISA,' she told reporters.

hazlinh@sph.com.sg