The 31 Hindraf protesters charged with attempted murder of a policeman will have to wait in prison until Monday to find out if they will be granted bail, as the hearing could not proceed today in the Shah Alam High Court.

Judge Zaharah Ibrahim granted the adjournment because both parties needed more time to sort out their documents involving a procedural matter.

It was revealed that two of the accused had sought assistance from lawyer L Selvam, who had lodged an appeal with Attorney-General (AG) Abdul Gani Patail without copying the letter to the defence counsel.

Prior to this, lead defence counsel GK Ganesan had filed for a revision of the Sessions Court verdict and bail applications last Friday for all the accused.

With the discovery of the mix-up this morning, Ganesan told the judge that he would be submitting his appeals and representations to the AG to clear the confusion.

Both sides agreed to the postponement.

Upon a defence request, Zaharah also issued a order to produce the 31 in court on Monday.

They have been held in Sungai Buloh prison since being charged last Thursday in the Shah Alam Sessions Court with the attempted murder of a police officer during an illegal gathering at the Batu Caves temple in the early hours of Nov 25.

They are accused of wounding officer Dadi Abdul Rani during a demonstration at Batu Caves, on the eve of a mass rally in Kuala Lumpur. Twelve of them were also charged with participating in the illegal assembly. The case is due to be heard from Jan 14-18.

Sessions judge Azimah Omar denied them bail for reasons of national security and based on the severity of the charges, which also included causing mischief.

‘They are heroes’

About 100 people comprising family members of the accused and Hindraf supporters lingered in the lobby of the court building for an hour, after being told that Hindraf legal adviser P Uthayakumar would show up.

When he appeared at 11.45am, he was greeted with rousing applause. He shook hands with many in the crowd, smiling broadly and talking to them in Tamil.

He was accompanied by a supporter holding a cage with 31 sparrows. Another supporter brought out a sack of coconuts.

He then led the crowd in reciting prayers before lighting a stack of camphor, setting free the sparrows and breaking coconuts in front of the court house. This lasted for 15 minutes.

The sparrows, according to Uthayakumar, represent the 31 accused persons.

“They sacrificed themselves for the Indian people’s cause. To me they are heroes,” he told the crowd.

He delivered a short speech in Tamil and English, praising the 31 people, after which he continued to meet with supporters. They left shortly after clearing the area of broken coconuts.

About 2.30pm, Uthayakumar was detained under the Internal Security Act along with four other leaders of Hindraf.