Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail will withdraw the contempt charge against human rights lawyer P Uthayakumar in the Sepang magistrate court, according to a news report today.

In a statement to Bernama , the AG Chambers' public relations unit said the decision was made after considering several representations - including by United Nations special rapporteur o­n the independence of judges and lawyers Param Curamawasmy and Bar Council chairperson Mah Weng Kwai - to drop the charges.

"The AG has been informed by the Bar Council that its disciplinary board set up under the Legal Profession Act 1976 is in the process of taking action against Uthayakumar over his conduct in the magistrate court," unit head Aziman Hasan was quoted as saying.

Uthayakumar ( photo ) was charged under Section 228 of the Penal Code for contempt of court and Section 506 for criminal intimidation of a police chief inspector early this year.

The lawyer, a tough campaigner against police brutality, was said to have questioned the chief inspector in a manner which implied that the latter was responsible for a custodial death when the magistrate's court was conducting an inquest last September into the death of S Tharmarajen.

Uthayakumar was said to have ignored the warning by magistrate Norazmi Norawi to "keep quiet or get out of the court".

The lawyer was also said to have uttered the words, "You watch out, I will fix you. We will fix you" to the police officer who was the investigating officer of the 19-year-old youth's case.

If found guilty, he faces a maximum of two years' jail and a fine for contempt of court, and a maximum of six months' jail and a fine for intimidation of the police officer.

Last week, he filed an application with the Shah Alam High Court to strike out the two charges. The trial will resume o­n April 8.

Not happy

When contacted later, Uthayakumar said he was "not happy" with the withdrawal of o­nly o­ne charge.

"I am still in double jeopardy because the AG Chambers lodged two complaints with the Bar Council's disciplinary board against me. With o­ne charge withdrawn, I am still facing the other charge in court and a related complaint with the disciplinary board.

"The AG should have been magnanimous enough to withdraw the two charges and let me answer to the disciplinary board o­n whatever allegations against me," he said.

He also questioned why the AG Chambers had decided to withdraw a charge three days ahead of the 57th Bar Council annual general assembly which will table a motion to call for the withdrawal of the two charges against him.