Uthaya's sedition trial can proceed without him !!

Malaysiakini - S Pathmawathy Apr 30, 09 12:14pm

An application by the lawyers for Hindraf's ISA-detained legal advisor P Uthayakumar today failed in their bid to have him present during his sedition trial at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

Justice Sabariah Othman ruled that it was not necessary for Uthayakumar to be brought from the Kamunting detention centre for the case.

She said that his lawyers could proceed with the case on his behalf.

Earlier his lawyers, led by N Surendran , asked for a postponement so that Uthayakumar could be present in the trial.

He also asked the court to ensure that Uthayakumar was brought to the court by the prison authorities and not the police special branch.

Surendran also submitted on their preliminary objection against Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail signing the prosecution order against Uthayakumar.

He claimed that Abdul Gani could have acted with bias in preferring the charge against Uthayakumar.

Sabariah fixed May 7 to decide on the objection. Deputy public prosecutor Raja Rozela Raja Toran appeared for the prosecution.

Charged over letter to UK

Uthayakumar, 46, is charged with publishing a letter with seditious contents on the Police Watch Malaysia website at http:// policewatchmalaysia.com at Menara Mutiara Bangsar, Bangsar between Nov 15 and Dec 8 last year.

The letter dated Nov 15 last year was from Hindraf and addressed to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at No. 10 Downing Street, London.

The charge under the Sedition Act carries a maximum RM5,000 or three years jail, or both, on conviction, with five years jail for a subsequent offence.

Uthayakumar was detained under the ISA on Dec 13, 2007 for his role in Hindraf.



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