RPK, BBC: Defamation? Isn’t the matter, if any, subjudice?

Via MT: the reason why RPK got taken off BBC?

The BBC researches many different stories, it is the normal process of news and current affairs throughout the media that not all make it to air for a variety of editorial reasons.
In this case, it became clear in our research that any comprehensive interview with former Malaysia Today Editor Raja Petra Kamarudin would prominently feature issues that are currently the subject of a current court case in Malaysia, which raise issues of defamation.
The suggestion that the item was dropped due to political pressure is untrue. All BBC programmes adhere to the same strict editorial guidelines which ensure complete editorial independence and impartiality.
BBC Global News
Room 433CB, Bush House, PO Box 76,
Strand, London, WC2B 4PH
www.bbc.com/worldservice
www.bbc.com/pressoffice

Firstly, if this is genuine, isn’t the issue one of subjudice, not defamation? This doesn’t seem the kind of ‘mistake’ an institution like the BBC would make.
Well, we all know how long the fingers of the powerful can reach.
Curiouser and curiouser.