Deputy Public Prosecutor Noorin Badaruddin told the Kuala Lumpur High Court today that there is no need for the prosecution to call independent witnesses to prove a sedition charge against Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar.

In making her submissions before Justice Azman Husin, Noorin said only the judge can determine whether a person had made a seditious remark.

Uthayakumar is appealing his 30-month jail sentence, imposed after the Sessions Court found him guilty of sedition last June.

Azman has set Feb 18 to rule whether or not to allow the appeal, as well as whether or not to suspend the sentence in the event he allows the appeal.

Uthayakumar’s lawyer M Manoharan (right) had earlier argued that the prosecution had not adequately proved the charge as it did not call independent witnesses to corroborate the allegation.

"There was also not a single police report made (against Uthayakumar) for his remarks," he submitted.

However, Noorin said witnesses are not required to corroborate a sedition charge and that the law is clear on this.

Uthayakumar has served six months of his sentence so far in the Kajang Prison. Present in court today, he appeared calm and collected during the proceedings.

He sat beside Manoharan at the lawyer's bench after telling the judge that he too is a lawyer, and waved at the public gallery which was filled with his supporters.

Manoharan had filed the appeal on the grounds that there had been a "miscarriage of justice" and "double jeopardy" during the trial and in the sedition charge itself.

Noorin rebutted that the defence has been using "loose terms" and "misleading" the court.

Uthayakumar was found guilty of the offence in relation to a letter he wrote to then British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in 2007.