The Kuala Lumpur High Court has set aside an arrest warrant issued against PKR vice-president Tian Chua.

His lawyer Eric Paulsen told Malaysiakini that Justice Sofian Abdul Razak agreed to set aside the warrant after he explained that his client was not aware that his presence was required yesterday.

"Prior to this, case management of the matter was done before the deputy registrar where his presence was not required," said the lawyer.

Yesterday, it was reported that the court issued the arrest warrant following Tian Chua's absence when the case was fixed for mention before the judge for the first time.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Zain Ibrahim appeared for the prosecution.

Last September, Tian Chua was convicted under the Sedition Act 1948 over his remarks made during a forum in the aftermath of the 13th general election in 2013 at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall soon.

He was sentenced to three months' jail and fined RM1,800.

Tian Chua is appealing against the conviction and sentence while the prosecution is appealing for a harsher sentence.

The maximum sentence that can be meted is three years' jail or RM5,000 fine, or both.

Under the Federal Constitution, MPs would automatically lose their seats if they are jailed for more than a year or fined above RM2000.

He or she would also be barred from standing for office for five years.

Tian Chua, who is also the MP for Batu, had recently spent a month in prison.

This was in relation to a charge of refusing a police order to leave the restricted Police Training Centre (Pulapol) area following the Bersih 3 rally in 2012.

He was sentenced to prison after withdrawing his appeal before the Court of Appeal.