Sedition charge dropped against lawyer

Tue, 15 Jan 2002 | Source: AP

MALAYSIA: Top law officer on Monday withdrew a two-year-old sedition charge against a lawyer who defended jailed politician Anwar Ibrahim in his corruption and sodomy trials.

Karpal Singh's case was believed to be the first time in a British Commonwealth country that a lawyer was prosecuted for statements made during a trial. He faced up to three years in prison and a fine of 5,000 ringgit (US$1,316) if convicted.

He was charged with sedition in January 2000 for alleging during Anwar's trial for sodomy that "people in high places" had tried to poison his client in prison with arsenic.

High Court Judge Augustine Paul acquitted Karpal of the charge on Monday after Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail informed the court that he was withdrawing the charge, witnesses at Monday's hearing said. --AP

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