Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) de facto leader P Uthayakumar was jailed for two-and a-half years today after he was found guilty of making seditious statements in 2007.
Uthayakumar is accused of publishing seditious material in a letter written between Nov 15 and Dec 8, 2007, to then British prime minister Gordon Brown, in which he alleged state-sponsored social ‘ethnic cleansing’ of the Indian poor in Malaysia.
The letter had also been posted on the now-defunct Police Watch website.
Uthayakumar had refused to continue with his defence on Monday, on grounds that the circumstances of the case did not allow him to proceed. He also refused to make submissions this morning.
The case was presided by KL Sessions Court judge Ahmad Zamzani Mohd Zain, who ruled that Uthayakumar had failed to raise reasonable doubt in the prosecution’s case.
Uthayakumar was very composed when the verdict and sentence were delivered and even smiled to supporters after the court adjourned.
Also today, Uthayakumar's younger brother, P Waythamoorthy (left), who heads Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia, was sworn in as a senator.
Waythamoothy was last month appointed a deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.
Uthayakumar is accused of publishing seditious material in a letter written between Nov 15 and Dec 8, 2007, to then British prime minister Gordon Brown, in which he alleged state-sponsored social ‘ethnic cleansing’ of the Indian poor in Malaysia.
The letter had also been posted on the now-defunct Police Watch website.
Uthayakumar had refused to continue with his defence on Monday, on grounds that the circumstances of the case did not allow him to proceed. He also refused to make submissions this morning.
The case was presided by KL Sessions Court judge Ahmad Zamzani Mohd Zain, who ruled that Uthayakumar had failed to raise reasonable doubt in the prosecution’s case.
Uthayakumar was very composed when the verdict and sentence were delivered and even smiled to supporters after the court adjourned.Also today, Uthayakumar's younger brother, P Waythamoorthy (left), who heads Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia, was sworn in as a senator.
Waythamoothy was last month appointed a deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.
No plans for appeal
Asked to state his plea in mitigation, he merely repeated what he had already said, at least twice this morning, before and after DPP Noorin Badaruddin made her final submissions.
Each time he was asked to address the court, Uthayakumar replied: “Because of the circumstances of this case and in protest against institutionalised racist government policies in Malaysia, victimising in particular the Indian poor, I am unable to proceed further with my defence, re-examination, calling further witnesses, submitting a close of case and mitigation.”
After the court adjourned, he repeatedly asked to be handcuffed. Following this, he posed for a photograph for supporters despite warnings from the court police that photography is prohibited in the courtroom. However, no action was taken against them.
The supporters shouted “Umno (is) racist!” as they left the public gallery while Uthayakumar was taken outside through another exit.
His lawyer M Manogaran told reporters later that he has not received any instructions to appeal the decision.
Each time he was asked to address the court, Uthayakumar replied: “Because of the circumstances of this case and in protest against institutionalised racist government policies in Malaysia, victimising in particular the Indian poor, I am unable to proceed further with my defence, re-examination, calling further witnesses, submitting a close of case and mitigation.”
After the court adjourned, he repeatedly asked to be handcuffed. Following this, he posed for a photograph for supporters despite warnings from the court police that photography is prohibited in the courtroom. However, no action was taken against them.
The supporters shouted “Umno (is) racist!” as they left the public gallery while Uthayakumar was taken outside through another exit.
His lawyer M Manogaran told reporters later that he has not received any instructions to appeal the decision.
The sentence begins today. Uthayakumar was sent to the Kajang jail.
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