Karpal convicted of committing sedition against Perak Sultan
(NST) – The High Court today convicted veteran lawyer and DAP politician Karpal Singh of committing sedition against the Sultan of Perak in 2009.
High Court judge Datuk Paduka Azman Abdullah ruled that the accused failed to raise reasonable doubt in the prosecution’s case at the end of defence.
However, he allowed an application by Karpal’s counsel for sentencing to be done on March 7 to allow the defence to prepare mitigation.
On March 17, 2009, Karpal, 73, was charged at the Sessions Court with uttering seditious words in relation to the Sultan of Perak, at a press conference held at his law firm here.
Karpal had said that the removal of Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin as Perak Menteri Besar by the sultan could be questioned in a court of law.
He committed the offence between noon and 12.30pm on Feb 6, 2009.
Karpal was charged under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition act 1948 which specifies a maximum three years’ jail term and RM5,000 fine, or both, if convicted.
On March 23, 2009, the case was transferred to the High Court.
The High Court acquitted Karpal at the end of the prosecution’s case on June 11, 2010.
However on Jan 20, 2012, the Court of Appeal overturned the verdict and ordered Karpal to enter his defence.
