Blogger Amizudin Ahmat was today sent to prison to serve a three-month jail term for contempt of court over contemptuous articles against former information, communication and culture minister Rais Yatim.

 

This is because he failed to obtain leave from the Federal Court here to appeal against the High Court decision which had found him to be in contempt for further publishing defamatory articles on Rais and had sentenced him to three months' jail.

 

A five member panel chaired by Federal Court judge Ahmad Maarop issued the committal warrant against Amizudin, 44, after rejecting his application for leave to appeal.

 

He said Amizudin could not get the leave as the legal questions posed by him did not meet the threshold requirement under Section 96 of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964.

 

An applicant in civil cases must first obtain leave (permission) from the Federal Court in order to bring their appeal to the Federal Court which is the Apex Court.

 

Ahmad ordered Amizudin to serve the jail term from today.

 

As soon as the court stood down, Amizudin was handcuffed by a policeman stationed in the courtroom.

 

It was a sombre atmosphere for Amizudin, his family and supporters who were present in court.

 

Amizudin and his family members were seen wiping tears. Before Amizudin was sent to the police lock-up, he waved and said to his family members and supporters, "Assalamualaikum, we will go on fighting."

 

Committal proceedings

On Nov 21, 2011, Rais, 72, was granted leave to commence committal proceedings against Amizudin, in relation to a civil suit filed by him.

 

Rais won his defamation suit at the High Court which had on July 19, 2011, ordered Amizudin to pay RM300,000 in damages and RM100,000 in costs to the then minister.

 

He filed the suit on Jan 31, 2011, against Amizudin for defamation over an article posted on the latter's blogsite , on or about Dec 28, 2010.

 

The Court of Appeal had later upheld the High Court's decision to award Rais RM300,000 in damages but reduced the costs from RM100,000 to RM50,000.

 

Amizudin also lost his appeal at the Court of Appeal to set aside the three-month jail term.

 

His appeal was dismissed on July 23, 2013. He subsequently, filed leave to appeal to the Federal Court.

 

Amizudin's counsel, R Sivarasa ( left ) said his client would be sent to the Kajang Prison.

 

The panel which also comprised Federal Court judges Jeffrey Tan Kok Wha, Mohamed Apandi Ali, Abu Samah Nordin and Ramly Ali had earlier heard submissions by Sivarasa.

 

The court delivered its decision after informing Rais's counsel, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah that he need not reply to Sivarasa's submission.

 

- Bernama