Appeals court strikes out bid to review Farid Kamil's jail sentence substitution

 

The Court of Appeal today struck out the prosecution’s appeal against a High Court decision in substituting a 13-month jail sentence imposed on actor cum director Farid Kamil Zahari for using criminal force against a police officer with a fine of RM5,000.

The prosecution filed the appeal in a bid to reinstate the custodial sentence meted out on Farid Kamil by the Petaling Jaya Magistrate's Court.

Deputy public prosecutor Eyu Ghim Siang, appearing for the prosecution, also applied for an extension of time for him to rectify the notice of appeal, which did not contain the signature of the head of the Appellate and Trial unit in the Attorney-General’s Chambers, saying that it was an “oversight” by the prosecution.

However, it was also dismissed by the Court of Appeal’s three-member panel led by judge Hanipah Farikullah, saying on grounds that the court deputy registrar had on three different occasions indicated to the prosecution about the defect in the notice of appeal.

Hanipah, who presided with judges Ahmad Nasfy Yasin and M Gunalan, subsequently struck out the appeal.

Earlier, Farid Kamil’s lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik objected to the prosecution’s application saying the deputy registrar had informed the prosecution three times about the defect in the notice of appeal but they only filed the application for an extension of time in May this year, which was a delay of five months.

Hisyam, assisted by co-counsel Kee Wei Lon, urged the court to strike out the prosecution’s appeal as it was not proper.

Following today’s decision, the RM5,000 fine imposed on Farid Kamil by the High Court for using criminal force against Constable Muhammad Nizam Jamaluddin to deter the officer from discharging his duty remains.

Farid Kamil was found guilty by the Magistrate's Court on June 2, 2020, for using criminal force against the police officer and another charge of uttering improper words against the same officer at the Kota Damansara traffic police station inquiry counter at 1.20pm on Jan 11, 2018.

He was sentenced to 13 months in jail for the charge of using criminal force and four months in jail for uttering improper words. He was ordered to serve the sentences concurrently.

However, following the actor’s appeal, the Shah Alam High Court, on Aug 24, 2021 replaced the 13-month jail term with a fine of RM5,000, while the four-month jail sentence was substituted with a fine of RM500.

On Jan 5, this year, Farid Kamil failed to obtain leave (permission) to pursue his appeal in the Court of Appeal against his conviction and the RM5,500 fine imposed on him by the High Court for both of the offences.

On the same day (Jan 5, this year) the prosecution also failed in its application to get an extension of time to file its petition of appeal and hence could not proceed with its appeal against the High Court decision to substitute the four-month imprisonment term to RM500 fine on Farid Kamil for the offence of uttering improper words.

- Bernama