The prosecution has filed a notice of appeal against the decision of a Kuala Lumpur magistrate's court to acquit the seven suspended university students - dubbed the 'ISA 7' - who were charged with illegal assembly four years ago.

The notice of appeal was filed three days after the magistrate's court decision on April 22, according to a letter from the Kuala Lumpur High Court noting the registration of the prosecution's appeal.

Copies of the letter dated May 2 were also received by the students recently.

On April 22, the magistrate's court acquitted the 'ISA 7' on the ground that the prosecution had failed to prove they had organised and participated in an anti-Internal Security Act (ISA) demonstration outside the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur on June 8, 2001.

Magistrate Mohd Khairi Haron also said that the prosecution had failed to prove it was an unlawful assembly.

The seven are Rafzan Ramli, Helman Sanuddin, Wan Sanusi Wan Mohd Noor, Khairul Amal Mahmud, Nik Noorhafizi Nik Ibrahim, Ahmad Kamal Abdul Hamid and Zulkefle Idris.

Seeking reinstatement

They were charged under Section 27 of the Police Act on July 19, 2001. All of them pleaded not guilty to the charge - which provides for a maximum two-year jail sentence, a fine of up to RM10,000 or both.

They had since been banned from attending classes by the four varsities where they were studying. Previously, they had appealed to the Education Ministry but then education minister Musa Mohamed said they could only be reinstated if they apologised . They did not do so.

It is learnt that a few of them have written to their respective universities to inform them of their acquittal and sought to resume their studies. However they have yet to receive any response.

Human rights and students bodies which welcomed the 'ISA 7' acquittal had urged the government and universities to apologise to the seven and grant them reinstatement so that they could resume their studies immediately.