DAP has slammed the Attorney-General's Chambers for seeking a heavier sentence against party chairperson Karpal Singh for his conviction for sedition.
"DAP strongly condemns the Attorney-General's Chambers for filing a cross-appeal to the Court of Appeal seeking a heavier sentence against DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh, who was fined RM4,000 for sedition by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on March 11.
"Karpal had appealed against both his conviction and sentence which would disqualify him as DAP MP for Bukit Gelugor and also barred him from holding all political posts.
"By wanting to jail Karpal at all costs is clearly political motivated to finish off Karpal’s political career," said party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng in a statement today.
The conviction has been strongly criticised both at home and abroad as politically motivated, considering that the Sedition Act is considered outdated and the charge concerns Karpal issuing his legal opinion.
This opinion came on the heels of the controversial ousting of the Pakatan Perak government following the defection of three of its assemblypersons to become BN-friendly independents.
'Don't shame M'sia further'
The Court of Appeal could impose the maximum penalties of a RM5,000 fine or three years jail on Karpal, a veteran lawyer.
"Deputy public prosecutor Noorin Badaruddin had pressed for a deterrent sentence and even threatened the High Court that failure to impose a heavy sentence on Karpal (left) would be disrespectful of the royalty," said Lim.
He called on the AG's Chambers to respect "international human rights, justice and freedom of expression" by withdrawing their cross-appeal
Lim said the sentence was tarnishing the country's image further, following a series of high-profile incidents such as the disappearance of MH370 and the kidnapping in Sabah that have given the country's image a severe beating.
"DAP strongly condemns the Attorney-General's Chambers for filing a cross-appeal to the Court of Appeal seeking a heavier sentence against DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh, who was fined RM4,000 for sedition by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on March 11.
"By wanting to jail Karpal at all costs is clearly political motivated to finish off Karpal’s political career," said party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng in a statement today.
The conviction has been strongly criticised both at home and abroad as politically motivated, considering that the Sedition Act is considered outdated and the charge concerns Karpal issuing his legal opinion.
This opinion came on the heels of the controversial ousting of the Pakatan Perak government following the defection of three of its assemblypersons to become BN-friendly independents.
'Don't shame M'sia further'
The Court of Appeal could impose the maximum penalties of a RM5,000 fine or three years jail on Karpal, a veteran lawyer.
He called on the AG's Chambers to respect "international human rights, justice and freedom of expression" by withdrawing their cross-appeal
Lim said the sentence was tarnishing the country's image further, following a series of high-profile incidents such as the disappearance of MH370 and the kidnapping in Sabah that have given the country's image a severe beating.
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