Federal Court Judge: "Your appeal is dimissed, with costs....."

Managed to pop in to the Federal Court earlier today to hear Karpal Singh argue the case for the Hindraf 5's appeal to review the habeas corpus suit. The outcome was not unexpected, looking at the line-up of the federal judges in the 3-man panel, Augustine Paul, Nik Hashim, and Zulkefli Ahmad Makinuddin.

After a lengthy and compelling submission by Karpal, the 3-man panel took a 10-minute break and came back to announce their decision. Judge Nik Hashim said that the judges unanimously voted to "dismiss the appeal WITH COSTS". Wait a minute, this is not a civil suit where you may have to bear the costs of the lawyers and fees from both sides if you lose the case. Luckily Karpal corrected the judge that this was not a civil case but a criminal one. "Oh ya-ke?" and proceeded to correct himself that the "appeal is dismissed." to the amusement of the audience. How embarrassing to hear a learned judge make such a mistake. And of all places, it happened in the highest court of the land, in the ostentatious Palace of Justice in Bolehland. The sadder part is that the detainees now have to languish in Kamunting at the pleasure of the Home Minister, indefinitely.