KUALA LUMPUR: A Sessions Court here has granted Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee P. Uthayakumar’s request to seek treatment for his diabetes.

The court postponed his sedition trial to April 28, and set it to be heard for three days.

Sessions Court judge Sabariah Othman, however, referred him to a government hospital and not a private medical centre as requested by lead counsel M. Manogaran.

“I order the police to bring him to the government hospital for his treatment as soon as possible,” she said.

Yesterday, the judge also said that she would decide on the trial date for another application by Uthayakumar to drop the sedition charge on grounds that the Attorney-General’s consent was null and void.

Uthayakumar, a leader of the banned Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), had on Dec 11, 2007 claimed trial to publishing a seditious letter on the Police Watch website, which was addressed to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

He was said to have committed the offence at Menara Mutiara Bangsar in Jalan Liku between Nov 15, 2007 and Dec 8 that year. If convicted, he can be fined a maximum of RM5,000 or jailed up to three years, or both, under Section 4(1) (c) of the Sedition Act 1948.

At the court proceedings earlier, Manogaran applied for his diabetic client to be referred to a private hospital of his choice, saying that Uthayakumar was in pain due to a swollen left leg.

“Four days ago, the accused applied to an officer for a doctor to examine his condition but was not allowed until now.

“The accused was blindfolded when he was brought to Kuala Lumpur on Monday and his foot accidentally knocked on a stone which worsened the pain,” he submitted.

Lead prosecutor DPP Raja Rozela Raja Toran said she had no objection to the application as it was related to his health condition, adding that the prosecution would produce five witnesses during the trial.

Earlier, Uthayakumar smiled and waved to his supporters who packed the public gallery when he was brought to the courtroom at 10.55am. He was immediately hugged by his mother G. Kalaivani, 65, younger sister P. Waytha Nayagi, 42, and fiancee S. Indradevi, 38.

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