Karpal’s kin files appeal to Federal Court over sedition conviction

Lawyers representing the late Karpal Singh today filed an appeal at the Federal Court to set aside his sedition conviction and fine for his comments relating to the 2009 Perak constitutional crisis.

Puchong MP and Karpal’s second son Gobind Singh Deo told Malaysiakini that they believe the former DAP chairperson was merely stating his legal opinion, which cannot be an offence.

“To us he has therefore committed no crime. So we must appeal to the Federal Court. The fight must go on!

“We have filed to set aside the conviction and sentence today,” said Gobind, adding it was vital for the family to clear Karpal’s name.

Today is the last day for the family to file the appeal, and their last chance to appeal and set aside the conviction.

On May 30, the Court of Appeal upheld the late Karpal’s sedition conviction over his comments on the 2009 Perak constitutional imbroglio, but reduced the fine from RM4,000 to RM1,800.

Justice Mohtarudin Baki and Justice Kamardin Hashim found Karpal guilty of sedition, while Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat dissented.

The former Bukit Gelugor MP was charged over his statement made at a press conference, where he said the late Perak sultan’s decision to remove then-Pakatan Rakyat menteri besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin could be challenged in a court of law.

Justice Tengku Maimun, in her dissenting judgment, agreed with the lawyers that Karpal had during the press conference used the words “my view” several times.

She said that based on the context of his speech, the senior lawyer was merely stating his opinion on the acts of the sultan of Perak.

“It falls under Section 3(2) (a) of the Sedition Act, namely that Karpal wanted to show that the ruler has been mistaken in his measures,” she said, in allowing the family’s appeal to set aside the conviction.

On March 11, 2014, Karpal was found guilty by the Kuala Lumpur High Court and fined RM4,000 for sedition. He passed away a month later.-Mkini