'Obnoxious, demeaning to throw shoes at anyone'

The act of throwing shoes at a person is obnoxious, demeaning and degrading, and more so if this is done in a court of law.

Justifying the one-year jail sentence imposed on imam Hoslan Hussein for throwing his shoes at three Federal Court judges on Feb 22, Chief Judge of Malaya Zulkefli Ahmad Makinuddin said a stiff custodial sentence for such an offence would redeem the dignity of the court.

"There have been many other cases of contempt of court, some committed by prominent lawyers, directors of companies and politicians, but such severe sentence was not imposed.

"It must be stated that the act of throwing objects, like shoes, have always been viewed upon as being obnoxious, demeaning, and degrading when hurled against a human being, and worst still, throwing at a panel of judges of the apex court of the nation," Justice Zulkefli said.

He noted, in the 16-page written judgment of a three-member panel of the Federal Court that on March 8 jailed Hoslan for a year for his act, that even an apology would not lessen the gravity of the offence.

The Federal Court today allowed a postponement of Hoslan's application for a review of the sentence to Monday.

Justice Zulkefli, who sat with Federal Court judges Suriyadi Halim Omar and Zaharah Zakaria added in the decision to jail the imam for a year that the court does not hold a grudge against Hoslan.

Neither did it mete out the punishment on personal interests but as a move to protect, preserve the power, respect and dignity of the apex court, the judgment states.

[More to follow]