PUTRAJAYA: Former Batu Kawan Umno vice-chief Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan and his lawyer Matthias Chang will face the banking sabotage charge at the Sessions Court, but they will not be tried under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma).
This is following the Federal Court’s decision yesterday to strike out the notices of appeal filed by the prosecution.
It meant that both men could be out on bail pending the trial at the Sessions Court. They were not allowed to be on bail under Sosma.
The Court of Appeal had on Dec 13 last year, upheld the High Court’s decision that the two could not be charged under Sosma for allegedly attempting to sabotage the banking and financial services.
“We agree with the applicants that under Rule 88(1) of the Rules of the Federal Court, it is mandatory for the appellant (Public Prosecutor) to serve notice of appeal to the applicants within 14 days. It was not done.
“Both appeals are struck out,” said Justice Hasan Lah who chaired the five-man panel.
Both Khairuddin and Chang will have their trial heard at the Sessions Court from May 11.
Speaking to reporters later, Khairuddin said he was grateful to God for the decision by the five judges.
Khairuddin, the former Batu Kawan Umno division deputy head, and Chang were charged in a magistrate’s court on Oct 12, 2015 for allegedly attempting to sabotage the banking and financial services sector.
They were charged with committing the offences between June 28 and Aug 26, 2015 at the Paris police station; the Charing Cross police station in London; the Swiss AG’s Office in Bern; the WaiChan police station in Hong Kong; and the Cantonment police headquarters in Singapore.
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