With the landmark decision on the UUCA case, Court of Appeal judge Justice Mohd Hishamuddin Mohd Yunus has yet again shown himself to be a judge we can look up to.

He examines the charges and the relevant laws with a rigorous and formidable intellect, and gives clear and comprehensive judgments (available promptly in writing) without fear or favour.

While adhering to the letter of the law, he does not artificially restrict himself to this (let alone twist it this way and that to suit someone else's script), but also examines the spirit of the law, relates it to real life, and considers its impact upon the lives of both the accused and the alleged victim, and upon society as a whole. This is intelligent and manifest justice.

In 2001, Justice Hishamuddin was responsible for freeing two ISA Reformasi detainees who appealed against their detention through a Habeas Corpus petition .

His decision included the bold comment, among others, that their arrest had indeed displayed elements of mala fide on the part of the authorities. As a reward for his temerity, the then PM had him swiftly transferred to the commercial division.

Not to be deterred, in this capacity he awarded damages to both Anwar Ibrahim (against Khalid Jafri, for slander) and Malik Hussain (against the authorities, for wrongful detention and torture).

In the end, neither of them actually received the money awarded, but the moral victory was extremely significant, giving a clear signal that no-one can act with impunity and hope or expect to get away with it.

Just as important, the innocent will be vindicated and the rights of the people upheld.

At last promoted to the Court of Appeal, he has now delivered another fearless decision. He has sacrificed his professional advancement for the sake of delivering true justice, and for that we must all thank and salute him.

But I have a feeling that, in any case, this is a man who goes to bed each night with a clear conscience.