KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 — The lawyer and family of P. Uthayakumar have applied to the courts to intercede and allow the imprisoned activist to get medical treatment for diabetes and a back injury.

His lawyer Avtar Singh Dhaliwal said that a request was made to the court registrar to push for the self-declared leader of Indian rights group Hindraf to be sent to Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM), an oft-repeated demand by his wife who had cited his prolapsed disc condition.

“We have requested the registrar to insist on bringing him to hospital,” Avtar Singh Dhaliwal told reporters at the Duta court complex here, referring to Deputy Registrar Nouraini Yusuf.

It is understood that the court will liaise with the authorities of Kajang prison where he is held for his medical treatment.

Avtar was speaking after the second case management for Uthayakumar’s appeal against the Sessions Court’s 2005 judgement.

When he entered the courtroom, Uthayakumar appeared to be in good spirits, smiling broadly as he raised a fist to the 20-odd supporters there.

He was allowed to sit and talk with his 69-year-old mother, G. Kalaivani, and wife S. Indra Devi.

But Uthayakumar’s supporters raised a ruckus in the courtroom despite calls for order, defiantly shouting loudly at the police officers present and crying out slogans.

Uthayakumar then shouted “Hindraf” four times to his supporters before the activist was escorted out of the courtroom.

According to his wife, today was Uthayakumar’s first appearance in court since he was sentenced to jail a few months ago.

Although Uthayakumar appeared to be in good health, Indra remained worried for his wellbeing, observing that he had lost weight.

Uthayakumar’s wife S. Indra Devi said she was worried for his wellbeing, observing that he had lost weight. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng

Indra is allowed to make a monthly visit and a weekly phone call to her husband.

On June 5 this year, Uthayakumar was given a 2½-year jail sentence for writing seditious remarks in a 2007 letter to former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

The former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee’s jail sentence was meted just hours after his brother and fellow Indian rights activist P. Waythamoorthy was sworn in as a senator in the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) government following the May 5 general election.

Uthayakumar’s lawyers have filed for an appeal, but they are still waiting for the Sessions Court’s grounds of judgement to proceed with the appeal at the High Court.

The next case management date has been set for October 24.

“We really hope October 24, the documents will be here and we can proceed with the case,” Avtar said today.