Change in schedule, 'slight delay' led to Tian Chua's arrest warrant

A change of schedule and a "slight" delay resulting in a missed court appointment led to an arrest warrant being issued against PKR vice-president Tian Chua, said lawyer Latheefa Koya.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Latheefa said the case management for Tian Chua's appeal on his sedition conviction at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur was initially supposed to be held in the morning.

"But the court called and said (the case management would be) in the evening, as the judge had to attend to something else," Latheefa said.

She added that a lawyer from Tian Chua's legal team was on the way to court, but did not arrive in time.

"Our lawyer did attend (court) but she was slightly delayed. The matter was called up before she arrived," Latheefa told Malaysiakini.

She said the lawyer did not get a chance to see Justice Sofian Abd Razak, who issued the arrest warrant today.

The warrant was issued as no one from Tian Chua's side was present for the case management.

In an earlier statement, Latheefa (photo) said Tian Chua was not aware of the case management.

"Tian Chua did not appear as his appearance had been dispensed with for case management prior to this.

"In fact, he was not aware of the case management date today, which had been informed to us as his solicitors only," she said.

She noted that Tian Chua's legal team will explain the situation to the judge tomorrow, and apply for a cancellation of the arrest warrant.

In September last year, Tian Chua was found guilty of sedition over remarks made at a 2013 forum held at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall soon after the 13th general election.

He was sentenced to three months’ jail and fined RM1,800.

Tian Chua is appealing against the conviction and sentence, while the prosecution is appealing for a harsher sentence.

The maximum sentence that can be meted is three years' jail, or an RM5,000 fine, or both.

Under the Federal Constitution, MPs automatically lose their seats if they are jailed more than a year or fined over RM2,000, and will be rendered ineligible to stand for office for a period of five years.- Mkini