Judge Datuk Paduka Azman Abdullah handed down the sentence after taking into account mitigation plea from Karpal's counsel Gobind Singh Deo and arguments for deterrent sentence by deputy public prosecutor Noorin Badaruddin.
Under the Federal Constitution, an MP is disqualified if he is fined more than RM2,000 or sentenced to jail of more than a year.
Karpal was also represented by counsel Sangeet Kaur Deo and Ram Karpal Singh.
On March 17, 2009, Karpal, who is Bukit Gelugor Member of Parliament (MP), was charged at the Sessions Court with one count of uttering seditious words in relation to the Sultan of Perak.
He committed the offence at a press conference held at his law firm here between noon and 12.30pm on Feb 6 the same year.
The case was transferred to the High Court on March 23, 2009.
The High Court acquitted Karpal without his defence being called on June 11, 2010.
The prosecution filed an appeal against the verdict.
On Jan 20, 2012, a three-man Court of Appeal bench, led by Datuk Ahmad Maarop, reversed the acquittal and ordered Karpal to enter his defence.
On March 26, 2012, a five-man Federal Court bench, led by Tan Sri Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin, dismissed Karpal's notice of appeal against the Court of Appeal ruling.
Karpal, 73, was found guilty by the High Court on Feb 21 this year. However, sentencing was fixed today to allow him to prepare his mitigation for a lenient sentence.
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