Karpal to be charged with sedition today
(The Edge) KUALA LUMPUR: DAP chairman Karpal Singh will be charged with sedition at the Sessions Court in Jalan Duta today in relation to Karpal’s threats to sue the Sultan of Perak for the Ruler's role in the Perak political crisis.
Karpal's son Ramkarpal Singh Deo when contacted yesterday confirmed that Karpal was served the notice by a police officer at Karpal's office yesterday and would be present in court at 9am today.
Asked if Karpal would be representing himself in court, Ramkarpal said: “We are still finalising it. We are not sure if he will represent himself, assisted by a team of lawyers.”
Karpal, who is also member of parliament for Bukit Gelugor, is expected to be charged under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948, for allegedly inciting hatred, contempt or disaffection against the Ruler. The offence carries a maximum penalty of RM5,000, a jail term not exceeding three years or both, upon conviction.
Following the appointment of the new Perak government by Sultan Azlan Shah last month, Karpal had expressed his intention to sue the Ruler over the matter. The well-known lawyer had received a death threat and two live bullets in the mail following his statements on the political crisis. He was also mobbed by a group of Umno Youth leaders after he blamed the movement in parliament for making the death threat against him.
To date, eight people nationwide had been charged with allegedly insulting Sultan Azlan Shah on the Internet.
Businessman Fuad Ariff Abdul Rashid, 35, and his wife, lawyer Fatimah Maisurah Abdullah, 34, were charged yesterday at the Kuala Terengganu Sessions Court with two counts of allegedly posting insulting comments against the Sultan on the Ruler's official website guestbook on Feb 14.
The couple was charged under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communication and Multimedia Act 1998 which carries a maximum penalty of RM50,000 fine, a jail term not exceeding a year or both.
Six people were charged with similar offences last Friday in Petaling Jaya, Kuala Lumpur, Butterworth and Kota Kinabalu. One among them had pleaded guilty and was fined RM10,000.
