Last year the Court of Appeal, in the absence of a cross-appeal by the prosecution, used its power in the Courts of Judicature Act 1964 to double the sentence of a man who wanted to lessen his jail term for assault. This month, a larger panel delivered a landmark judgment that endorsed the same power to High Court judges under the Criminal Procedure Code. CHELSEA L.Y. NG takes a closer look at these provisions and their effect on the court system.
IT WAS Rosli Supardi’s final avenue to appeal against the six-year-jail term and three whippings sentence meted out by a Sessions Court more than three years ago.