Karpal appeals against fine

The New Straits Times
By HIDIR REDUAN

SEDITION CONVICTION: Notice filed at Kuala Lumpur High Court Criminal Registry

PUTRAJAYA: DAP chairman and Bukit Gelugor  member of parliament Karpal Singh filed a notice of appeal against the High Court's decision ordering him to pay a RM4,000 fine for committing sedition against the sultan of Perak five years ago.

"The notice of appeal against the sentence was filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court Criminal Registry today (yesterday) and copies have been served on the Attorney-General and the Court of Appeal Registry," said Karpal's counsel Zaleha al-Hayat.

On whether veteran lawyer Karpal has filed a notice of appeal against his conviction as well, Zaleha said the notice was filed a day after Karpal's conviction on Feb 21. The High Court here found Karpal, 73, guilty of committing the offence at a press conference held at his law firm here between noon and 12.30pm on Feb 6, 2009.

However, judge Datuk Azman Abdullah allowed the defence's application for sentencing be deferred to allow Karpal to prepare mitigation for a lenient sentence.

On March 11, the High Court fined Karpal RM4,000 after submissions by the defence and deputy public prosecutor Noorin Badaruddin. Karpal paid the fine.