Sentence on Rahim too light, says Anwar's counsel
R. MageswariPublished: Apr 17, 2001 8:25 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
In an immediate reaction to the sentencing of Abdul Rahim Noor, lawyer and former DAP MP Karpal Singh said that the former police chief got off too lightly for assaulting sacked deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim.
"I'm not satisfied with the sentence because it is manifestly inadequate," Karpal, who was holding a watching brief for Anwar, told reporters outside the court. Earlier, Rahim was sentenced to two months' jail and fined RM2,000.
KeADILan vice president Tian Chua, who was also outside the court this morning, said the process could be a "cover-up". "Rahim's plea of guilt yesterday looks like a deal made between Rahim and the Attorney General's Chambers," he said.
Rahim yesterday pleaded guilty to an amended charge of "causing simple hurt" to the former heir apparent to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
Meanwhile, former opposition leader Lim Kit Siang said the sentence would lead Malaysians to sense that something is very wrong with the system of justice in the country.
Lim also pointed out that Anwar was not allowed bail pending his appeal on the corruption conviction. Rahim walked free this morning after posting a bail of RM5,000 immediately after the sentencing by Sessions Court judge Akhtar Tahir.
Anwar is currently serving a six-year jail term for corruption. His appeal hearing against the charges and sentence ended last Thursday.
Lim said the amendment made to the original charge framed against the former Inspector-General of Police "enhances the concern about selective prosecution and selective justice".
Rahim was originally charged with "attempting to cause grievous harm" to Anwar as recommended by the Royal Commission of Enquiry that was set up to probe into Anwar's allegations that he was assaulted while in police custody.
The former charge carries a jail term of three-and-a-half years and a fine upon conviction unlike the amended charge which carries a prison term of maximum one year's jail and a fine not exceeding RM2,000.
Echoing Lim's concerns, Karpal said the "Attorney-General has abused his powers" in allowing the amendment to the original charge.
"The charge ought not to have been reduced and the AG owes a duty to the public to say why it was done," Karpal said.
The charge recommended by the commission was immediately adopted by the AG's Chambers. It later was amended upon appeal from Rahim's counsels K. Kumaraendran and R. Sithambaram. Karpal yesterday told reporters he was unaware of the amendments.
Kumaraendran filed a notice of appeal to the High Court this morning to reduce the sentence meted out on Rahim. He said the defence filed the appeal as the sentence "does not commensurate with the service rendered by Rahim to the country."
Rahim, clad in a grey jacket, left immediately after the proceedings and avoided reporters who were crammed into the packed court.
Tian Chua told malaysiakini that pro-Anwar supporters might stage a protest against the sentence later this week.
Anti-riot police and one water cannon truck were noted outside the court this morning. There were, however, no untoward incidents reported.
Meanwhile, human rights group Suaram said it is "appalled" by the light sentence imposed on the former IGP, describing it as "merely a light slap on his wrist".
Its spokesperson Elizabeth Wong said in a statement to malaysiakini that "the gravity of the crime" was not reflected in today's sentence, especially given that Rahim was the highest ranking police officer in the country at that time.
"In the case of Anwar Ibrahim and former MP Lim Guan Eng, the courts imposed deterrent sentences based on the fact that both were public figures. In this case of Rahim, the judgment has been the opposite," Wong said.
She stated that today's sentence is "an insult to all victims of police brutality seeking justice".
"The judiciary today could have served a firm deterrent against police brutality and assaults of any nature such as maid-bashing, domestic violence," she added.
"I'm not satisfied with the sentence because it is manifestly inadequate," Karpal, who was holding a watching brief for Anwar, told reporters outside the court. Earlier, Rahim was sentenced to two months' jail and fined RM2,000.
KeADILan vice president Tian Chua, who was also outside the court this morning, said the process could be a "cover-up". "Rahim's plea of guilt yesterday looks like a deal made between Rahim and the Attorney General's Chambers," he said.
Rahim yesterday pleaded guilty to an amended charge of "causing simple hurt" to the former heir apparent to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
Meanwhile, former opposition leader Lim Kit Siang said the sentence would lead Malaysians to sense that something is very wrong with the system of justice in the country.
Lim also pointed out that Anwar was not allowed bail pending his appeal on the corruption conviction. Rahim walked free this morning after posting a bail of RM5,000 immediately after the sentencing by Sessions Court judge Akhtar Tahir.
Anwar is currently serving a six-year jail term for corruption. His appeal hearing against the charges and sentence ended last Thursday.
Lim said the amendment made to the original charge framed against the former Inspector-General of Police "enhances the concern about selective prosecution and selective justice".
Rahim was originally charged with "attempting to cause grievous harm" to Anwar as recommended by the Royal Commission of Enquiry that was set up to probe into Anwar's allegations that he was assaulted while in police custody.
The former charge carries a jail term of three-and-a-half years and a fine upon conviction unlike the amended charge which carries a prison term of maximum one year's jail and a fine not exceeding RM2,000.
Echoing Lim's concerns, Karpal said the "Attorney-General has abused his powers" in allowing the amendment to the original charge.
"The charge ought not to have been reduced and the AG owes a duty to the public to say why it was done," Karpal said.
The charge recommended by the commission was immediately adopted by the AG's Chambers. It later was amended upon appeal from Rahim's counsels K. Kumaraendran and R. Sithambaram. Karpal yesterday told reporters he was unaware of the amendments.
Kumaraendran filed a notice of appeal to the High Court this morning to reduce the sentence meted out on Rahim. He said the defence filed the appeal as the sentence "does not commensurate with the service rendered by Rahim to the country."
Rahim, clad in a grey jacket, left immediately after the proceedings and avoided reporters who were crammed into the packed court.
Tian Chua told malaysiakini that pro-Anwar supporters might stage a protest against the sentence later this week.
Anti-riot police and one water cannon truck were noted outside the court this morning. There were, however, no untoward incidents reported.
Meanwhile, human rights group Suaram said it is "appalled" by the light sentence imposed on the former IGP, describing it as "merely a light slap on his wrist".
Its spokesperson Elizabeth Wong said in a statement to malaysiakini that "the gravity of the crime" was not reflected in today's sentence, especially given that Rahim was the highest ranking police officer in the country at that time.
"In the case of Anwar Ibrahim and former MP Lim Guan Eng, the courts imposed deterrent sentences based on the fact that both were public figures. In this case of Rahim, the judgment has been the opposite," Wong said.
She stated that today's sentence is "an insult to all victims of police brutality seeking justice".
"The judiciary today could have served a firm deterrent against police brutality and assaults of any nature such as maid-bashing, domestic violence," she added.
View Comments0