Karpal’s sentencing date changed

March 11, new date for Karpal Singh's sentencing on sedition conviction.

KUALA LUMPUR: March 11 has been set as the new date for the mitigation and sentencing of lawyer and DAP chairman Karpal Singh for sedition for questioning the Sultan of Perak’s action in removing Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin as the menteri besar of Perak in 2009.

Karpal Singh confirmed the new date to Bernama when met at the Jalan Duta Court Complex here today.

The High Court had initially set March 7 for sentencing.

The Bukit Gelugor MP said he was verbally informed of the new date by the deputy registrar of the High Court today because the trial judge, Azman Abdullah, currently attached to the Kota Baru High Court, would not be able to attend on the initial date.

Karpal Singh, 73, was found guilty last Friday of having said at his legal firm in Jalan Pudu Lama on Feb 6, 2009, that the removal of Mohammad Nizar and the appointment of Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir as the new menteri besar by the sultan could be questioned in court.

The charge, under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948, provides for a maximum jail term of three years and a fine of RM5,000, or both, upon conviction.

Karpal Singh faces the risk of being disqualified as an MP if he is fined more than RM2,000 or sentenced to a jail term exceeding one year.

The High Court had, on June 11, 2010, acquitted and discharged Karpal Singh without calling for his defence but, following an appeal by the prosecution, the Court of Appeal, on Jan 20, 2012, ordered him to make his defence.

In a related development, Karpal Singh told Bernama that if his conviction was upheld by the appeal courts (Court of Appeal and Federal Court) he could not remain as the chairman of the DAP.

He said the party constitution disallowed a person convicted of any criminal offence from holding office or offering himself to contest any party post.

Karpal Singh referred to the similar circumstances faced by party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, who was found guilty of a similar offence in 1998 and sentenced to 18 months jail. Guan Eng only returned to active politics in 2004.

However, Karpal Singh pointed out that he could continue with his legal practice as the offence did not come within the interpretation of ‘professional misconduct’ under Section 94 of the Legal Profession Act 1976.

-Bernama