Sedition: Uthayakumar gets early release from prison

The Court of Appeal today upheld lawyer P. Uthayakumar's conviction for writing a letter of a seditious nature to former British prime minister Gordon Brown but reduced his 30 months' jail sentence to 24 months.

A three-member panel chaired by Justice Datuk Aziah Ali said a lesser sentence was appropriate, thus the court varied the jail term to 24 months.

Following this decision, Uthayakumar who has been detained in Kajang prison since June 5, last year, will be released on Oct 3.

Justice Aziah, who sat with Justices Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof and Datuk Ahmadi Asnawi, dismissed Uthayakumar's final appeal over the conviction under the Sedition Act but allowed the lawyer a reduced sentence.

She said the court found the complaints by the appellant (Uthayakumar) on the conviction imposed by the Sessions Court judge to be without merit.

The panel made the ruling after hearing submissions from lawyer M. Manoharan, who represented Uthayakumar, and Deputy Public Prosecutor Azlina Rasdi, who appeared for the prosecution.

Since Uthayakumar's case originated at the Sessions Court, his last legal avenue ended in the Court of Appeal.

On June 5, last year the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court found Uthayakumar guilty on the charge of writing a letter of a seditious nature which was addressed to Gordon Brown, who was then Britain's prime minister, at 10 Downing Street, London, United Kingdom.

He was charged with committing the offence in Jalan Toman 7, Kemayan Square, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan on Nov 15, 2007 under Section 4(1)(a) of the Sedition Act 1948.

On Feb 18, this year, the High Court upheld the conviction and 30 months' jail sentence after rejecting Uthayakumar's appeal.