Former Batu Kawan UMNO division vice-chief Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan and lawyer Matthias Chang Wen Chieh remain free on bail pending completion of their trial on a charge of allegedly attempting to sabotage the country's banking and financial services.
This follows a decision of the Court of Appeal three-man panel led by Justice Datuk Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat in unanimously dismissing the prosecution's appeal against the Kuala Lumpur High Court's decision last year to release the duo on bail.
In her decision, she said the charge faced by the two under Section 124L of the Penal Code was not a security offence, thus the procedures under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA) did not apply to their case.
SOSMA procedures allow an accused person to be denied bail and be detained pending disposal of that person's trial.
Khairuddin, 54, was seen embracing Chang, 66, after the court's verdict was announced and there was also applause from some people seated in the public gallery.
Justice Tengku Maimun said Parliament could not have intended the charge faced by the duo to be a security offence to invoke SOSMA.
She said the court panel found no merit in the prosecution's appeal. Presiding with her were Justices Datuk Ahmadi Asnawi and Datuk Kamardin Hashim.
Khairuddin and Chang were jointly charged with attempting to sabotage Malaysia's banking and financial services at five locations between June 28 and Aug 26, last year. Both face a jail term of up to 15 years, if convicted.
The locations are the office of the France Economic and Financial Crimes Division chief in Paris; Charing Cross police station, London, United Kingdom; office of the Switzerland Attorney-General in Bern; Wai Chan police station, Hongkong; and Cantonment police headquarters, Singapore.
The High Court had on Nov 18, last year, granted the two bail after ruling that the charge they faced was not a security offence and it did not fall under SOSMA.
After the court's verdict, Khairuddin's lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla told reporters that the matter was fixed for mention in the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow for the court to give direction on the next step.
Meanwhile, Chang's counsel Zainur Zakaria said the Court of Appeal ruling today affirmed the High Court's decision that only procedures under the Evidence Act and Criminal Procedure Code would apply for the offence faced by the two men.
Deputy public prosecutor Awang Armadajaya Awang Mahmud told reporters that he would brief his superiors on whether to bring the matter to the Federal Court.
Lawyer Tommy Thomas held a watching brief on behalf of the Malaysian Bar. - Bernama
Bernama
Tue Dec 13 2016
![Prosecution's appeal against Khairuddin, Chang's release on bail dismissed Prosecution's appeal against Khairuddin, Chang's release on bail dismissed](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2015-10/51444723200_KhairuddinHassan.jpg)
The High Court had on Nov 18, last year, granted the two bail after ruling that the charge they faced was not a security offence and it did not fall under SOSMA. - File photo
![Bapa bintang bola sepak Sepanyol, Lamine Yamal ditikam - Laporan Bapa bintang bola sepak Sepanyol, Lamine Yamal ditikam - Laporan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723677980_MounirNasraoui.jpg)
Bapa bintang bola sepak Sepanyol, Lamine Yamal ditikam - Laporan
Mounir Nasraoui, bapa kepada Lamine Yamal, ditikam pada lewat Rabu di tempat letak kereta di bandar Mataro di timur laut Sepanyol.
Putin anggap rundingan dengan Ukraine tidak berguna
Presiden Rusia Vladimir Putin menyifatkan, tindakan Ukraine yang menyerang orang awam memperlihatkan keengganan Kyiv menyelesaikan konflik peperangan dua negara dengan cara perdamaian.
Fadillah tiba di Peru, hadiri mesyuarat menteri-menteri tenaga APEC 2024
Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof tiba Lima, Peru bagi menghadiri Mesyuarat Menteri-Menteri Tenaga (EMM) di bawah Kerjasama Ekonomi Asia Pasifik (APEC) yang berlangsung selama dua hari.
BNM denda Maybank RM4.32 juta, CIMB RM760,000 berikutan gangguan perkhidmatan berpanjangan
Bank Negara Malaysia mengenakan Penalti Monetari Pentadbiran (AMP) sebanyak RM4.32 juta ke atas Malayan Banking Bhd dan Maybank Islamic Bhd serta RM760,000 ke atas CIMB Bank Bhd dan CIMB Islamic Bank Bhd susulan gangguan beberapa perkhidmatan perbankan yang berpanjangan.
![Pertubuhan kebajikan New Zealand mohon maaf edar gula-gula bercampur dadah Methamphetamine Pertubuhan kebajikan New Zealand mohon maaf edar gula-gula bercampur dadah Methamphetamine](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723674988_pineapplesweetsme.jpg)
Pertubuhan kebajikan New Zealand mohon maaf edar gula-gula bercampur dadah Methamphetamine
Auckland City Mission secara tidak sengaja telah mengagihkan gula-gula bercampur Methamphetamine yang boleh membawa maut melalui pek makanan.
Pesakit buah pinggang di Gaza hadapi kekurangan mesin dialisis
Pesakit buah pinggang di Gaza menghadapi kekurangan peralatan dialisis dan bekalan perubatan yang teruk di Khan Younis.
Kekejaman zionis: Hamas hilang kepercayaan A.S jadi pengantara gencatan senjata
Hamas hilang kepercayaan terhadap keupayaan Amerika Syarikat untuk menjadi pengantara gencatan senjata di Gaza.
Kekejaman zionis: Hamas tidak ambil bahagian rundingan gencatan senjata baharu
Hamas tidak akan mengambil bahagian dalam pusingan baharu rundingan gencatan senjata Gaza yang dijadualkan di Qatar, pada Khamis.
Malaysia kecam pencerobohan Israel ke atas Masjid Al-Aqsa
Wisma Putra dalam satu kenyataan pada Rabu berkata perbuatan keji ini yang dilakukan di bawah perlindungan pasukan keselamatan Israel, merupakan pencerobohan serius terhadap satu daripada tapak paling suci Islam.
![WHO isytihar mpox sebagai kecemasan kesihatan awam global WHO isytihar mpox sebagai kecemasan kesihatan awam global](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723675747_Mpoxvirus.jpg)
WHO isytihar mpox sebagai kecemasan kesihatan awam global
Ini merupakan pengisytiharan kali kedua dalam tempoh dua tahun berikutan wabak yang bermula di Congo sudah merebak ke negara jiran.