The Court of Appeal in Putrajaya today allowed the widow of the late Karpal Singh to proceed with his appeal against conviction for sedition and the RM4,000 fine imposed by the High Court.

A three-member panel chaired by Justice Aziah Ali granted the application by Gurmit Kaur who is also the administrator of her late husband’s estate, to act as substitute appellant.

The panel which also comprised Justice Zakaria Sam and Abdul Rahman Sebli set Jan 21, next year for hearing of the appeal.

Ram Karpal Singh said the family wanted to pursue the appeal to clear his father’s name.

Acting as counsel, he said if Gurmit Kaur succeeded in the appeal, she would have the right to receive her husband’s pension.

Karpal Singh was the Bukit Gelugor Member of Parliament when he lost his life at 73, in a road accident along the North-South expressway near Gua Tempurung on April 17, this year.

Gurmit Kaur’s application to act as substitute appellant was made under Orders 41 of the Court of Appeal Rules 1994. Deputy public prosecutor Lailawati Ali did not object to it.

On Feb 21, this year, Karpal Singh was found guilty by the High Court in Kuala Lumpur for questioning the Sultan of Perak’s action in removing Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin as the menteri besar of Perak in 2009.

He was fined RM4,000 by the High Court on March 11, and filed a notice of appeal at the Court of Appeal on March 24.

On Aug 21, his family filed the petition of appeal, stating among others, that the High Court judge who found Karpal Singh guilty of sedition failed to consider the latter’s defence that the ruler’s decision could be challenged.

- Bernama