PETALING JAYA - DAP chairman Karpal Singh today was found guilty by the High Court for uttering a seditious statement against Perak ruler, Sultan Azlan Shah, in 2009.
Justice Azman Abdullah said that the defence failed to create reasonable doubt in the prosecution’s case against the veteran politician.
Karpal’s legal team requested the judge to defer the sentencing to allow them time to prepare and present a plea in mitigation.
Justice Azman then set March 7 for sentencing after Karpal.
Karpal risks being disqualified as the Bukit Gelugor MP as the offence carries a maximum fine of RM5,000 or three years imprisonment, or both.
On Feb 6, 2009, Karpal was alleged to have said that Sultan Azlan Shah’s decision to remove the then state menteri besar Nizar Jamaluddin from his post, could be argued in the court of law.
Karpal’s defence team argued that the politician merely offered a legal opinion and the charge levelled at him was done in bad faith.
Azman, in his judgement today, said the court found that Karpal’s testimony, delivered over seven days, and that of another defence witness had failed to raise a reasonable doubt in the prosecution’s case.
Karpal told reporters afterwards that he respected the decision of the court and that he would appeal soon after the court meted out the sentence.
Members of Karpal’s family as well as the top leaders of the opposition Pakatan Rakyat pact were present in court today to lend support to the DAP leader.
The prosecution was represented by Deputy Public Prosecutor Noorin Badaruddin.
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