The prosecution today closed its case after calling 20 witnesses in the sedition trial of DAP chairperson and lawyer Karpal Singh in the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

Deputy public prosecutor Noorin Badaruddin told the court that besides the witnesses who testified, the prosecution also offered all the remaining 43 on the witness list.

Ram Karpal Singh, who is assisting his father in the trial, told the court the defence needed time to prepare as it had received part of the notes on the proceedings from the court only on Wednesday.

Justice Azman Abdullah set May 24 for submission by both sides.

Among those who testified in the trial are deputy director of RTM TV News Roslan Ariffin and Utusan Malaysia reporter Nizam Mohd Yatim.

The highlight of the trial was the video recording of Karpal Singh's press conference at his office on Feb 6 last year where he allegedly made seditious remarks about the Sultan of Perak.

Besides the video, the prosecution also produced the transcript of the press conference prepared by two RTM journalists.

The defence argued that some remarks by Karpal Singh were missing from the transcript.

Investigating officer ASP Suhaimi Mohamad had told the court the transcript contained spelling errors and did not include in full the questions raised by journalists at the press conference.

The court also heard that 103 police reports were lodged by individuals and groups who were not happy with Karpal Singh's statements at the press conference.

On March 17 last year, Karpal Singh claimed trial to the charge of uttering seditious words at the press conference pertaining to the Sultan of Perak at his office, Tetuan Karpal Singh & Co, Jalan Pudu Lama, here between noon and 12.30pm

on Feb 6.

He was charged under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948 and faces a maximum fine of RM5,000 or three years' imprisonment, or both, if found guilty.

- Bernama