Human
Rights Party leader P Uthyakumar made his first public appearance in
the High Court in Kuala Lumpur today after being jailed for sedition in
June, with six prison guards surrounding him in open court.
Unlike other prisoners, where one guard escorts the person in court, Uthyakumar, in red prison clothes, was placed under heavy guard as he appeared for case management on his appeal today.
The
action of the prison authorities angered Uthayakumar's supporters who
occupied the courtroom, and they asked that he be treated with dignity.
After case management, his wife S Indra Devi (right in picture) and Uthayakumar's mother G Kalaivany were allowed some moments with Uthayakumar in the courtroom, but were surrounded by the prison guards and court policemen, who kept close watch on them.
As Uthayakumar and his supporters complained over the manner that he was treated, the court ordered that the Human Rights Party leader be brought down to the court complex lock-up at the basement and for the family members to meet him there.
Uthayakumar's lawyer AS Dhaliwal told reporters that the court has set Oct 24 for further case management.
"The notes of the trial proceedings and the grounds of the decision have not been prepared.
"Hence,
we cannot prepare our petition of appeal without the two documents as
they are needed. We will be writing in to ask the sessions court judge
to prepare the necessary documents as soon as possible for us to prepare
the petition of appeal," Dhaliwal (left) said.
He also related his unhappiness over the manner that the prison authorities had treated Uthayakumar, and said that his client is a diabetic patient and suffers from back pain.
"We have asked the court to look into the matter of him not getting treatment at Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia," said the lawyer.
Deputy registrar Nooraini Yusof said she will write to the prison authorities for them to look into their procedures in providing Uthyakumar medical aid.
DPP Kee Wei Lon represented the prosecution.
Wife fears for Uthaya's safety
Indra Devi said she is fearing for her husband's safety following Uthayakumar's disclosure of his 100 days experience in Kajang prison.
"You saw how they treated him in court where the prison authorities pushed him and were rough with him."
Indra Devi said Uthayakumar told her that the prison authorities had also threatened to put him in a dark cell with hardened criminals.
She added in the past, the prison authorities had made similar threats of placing him in a dark room, although they did not do so.
"Nevertheless, all this makes me fear for him. But I know that he will persevere. As you have seen, his spirits are high. But I am also worried as he is suffering severe weight loss.
"Being a diabetic, this is not good and I hope the prison authorities will allow him hospital treatment. Previously, they took him to Kajang Hospital. However, we have asked, if possible, that he be referred to HUKM, where he was a patient," Indra Devi said.
Uthayakumar was found guilty of sedition and jailed for two years and six months by the sessions court, for publishing seditious remarks on the Police Watch website over a letter to former British prime minister Gordon Brown between Nov 15 and Dec 8, 2007.
Unlike other prisoners, where one guard escorts the person in court, Uthyakumar, in red prison clothes, was placed under heavy guard as he appeared for case management on his appeal today.
The
action of the prison authorities angered Uthayakumar's supporters who
occupied the courtroom, and they asked that he be treated with dignity.After case management, his wife S Indra Devi (right in picture) and Uthayakumar's mother G Kalaivany were allowed some moments with Uthayakumar in the courtroom, but were surrounded by the prison guards and court policemen, who kept close watch on them.
As Uthayakumar and his supporters complained over the manner that he was treated, the court ordered that the Human Rights Party leader be brought down to the court complex lock-up at the basement and for the family members to meet him there.
Uthayakumar's lawyer AS Dhaliwal told reporters that the court has set Oct 24 for further case management.
"The notes of the trial proceedings and the grounds of the decision have not been prepared.
"Hence,
we cannot prepare our petition of appeal without the two documents as
they are needed. We will be writing in to ask the sessions court judge
to prepare the necessary documents as soon as possible for us to prepare
the petition of appeal," Dhaliwal (left) said.He also related his unhappiness over the manner that the prison authorities had treated Uthayakumar, and said that his client is a diabetic patient and suffers from back pain.
"We have asked the court to look into the matter of him not getting treatment at Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia," said the lawyer.
Deputy registrar Nooraini Yusof said she will write to the prison authorities for them to look into their procedures in providing Uthyakumar medical aid.
DPP Kee Wei Lon represented the prosecution.
Wife fears for Uthaya's safety
Indra Devi said she is fearing for her husband's safety following Uthayakumar's disclosure of his 100 days experience in Kajang prison.
"You saw how they treated him in court where the prison authorities pushed him and were rough with him."
Indra Devi said Uthayakumar told her that the prison authorities had also threatened to put him in a dark cell with hardened criminals.
She added in the past, the prison authorities had made similar threats of placing him in a dark room, although they did not do so.
"Nevertheless, all this makes me fear for him. But I know that he will persevere. As you have seen, his spirits are high. But I am also worried as he is suffering severe weight loss.
"Being a diabetic, this is not good and I hope the prison authorities will allow him hospital treatment. Previously, they took him to Kajang Hospital. However, we have asked, if possible, that he be referred to HUKM, where he was a patient," Indra Devi said.
Uthayakumar was found guilty of sedition and jailed for two years and six months by the sessions court, for publishing seditious remarks on the Police Watch website over a letter to former British prime minister Gordon Brown between Nov 15 and Dec 8, 2007.
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