KUALA LUMPUR, November 14 – The High Court here granted leave for lawyer P. Uthayakumar to cite Kajang Prison director for contempt of court for failing to comply court directive to place him at a different prison cell away from hardcore prisoners.
Justice Datuk Mohd Azman Husin set Jan 13 next year for Abdul Wahab Abdul Kasssim (director) to appear before him and explain himself on why he should not be cited for contempt.
However, he disallowed the application for two other prison inspectors to face similar actions.
Mohd Azman confirmed the High Court orders issued on Sept 9 last year, among others, ordered that Uthayakumar be placed with other political prisoners rather than hardcore prisoners.
This was following Uthayakumar’s complaint that he was forced to share a cell with five other inmates who were convicted for robbery and rape cases.
Mohd Azman also had ordered Uthayakumar to be referred to a specialist at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital to treat his “collapsed disc”.
In 2007, Uthayakumar, 52, founder of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) and a former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee, was charged with publishing a seditious letter on the Police Watch Malaysia’s website.
He had committed the offence at Jalan Toman 7, Kemayan Square, Seremban, on Nov 15, 2007.
The lawyer was convicted and sentenced to two years and six months’ imprisonment by the Sessions Court on June 5, 2013.
The High Court upheld the sentence but the Court of Appeal reduced the jail term from 30 months to 24. He completed his sentence on Oct 3.
Uthayakumar was represented by counsel M. Manoharan and M.Manogaran while the respondents were represented by deputy public prosecutor Azlina Rasdi.
– BERNAMA
