KUALA LUMPUR: Former Batu Kawan Umno division vice-chairman Khairuddin Abu Hassan and his lawyer Matthias Chang are the first ever to be charged with trying to sabotage the country’s banking and financial services.
Both the men – clad in their orange lockup uniforms – were defiant as they were brought into a magistrate’s court to be charged where they were applauded by family members and supporters.
“I will fight Najib to the end,” Khairudin, 53, told those gathered, referring to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Beside him, Chang, 65, said: “We are innocent until proven guilty. This is the fifth day of my hunger strike.”
The charge was then read to Khairuddin in Bahasa Malaysia while Chang, who appeared irritated, asked for the charge to be read to him in English instead.
They were charged under Section 124 (L) of the Penal Code, read with Section 34, for attempting to sabotage Malaysia’s banking and financial services.
Both were accused of jointly committing the offences at the Paris Police Station; Charing Cross Police Station, London; Switzerland Attorney-General’s office, Bern; Wai Chan Police Station, Hong Kong; and Cantonment Police Headquarters, Singapore, between June 28 and Aug 26.
They face a maximum jail term of 15 years if convicted.
During the proceedings, Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Masri Daud asked the court for a month to prepare the relevant documents to sanction the charge under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma), to which defence counsel Haniff Khatri Abdulla objected.
Haniff said if Khairuddin and Chang were being charged under the Penal Code, the magistrate should grant them bail and transfer the case to the High Court.
If charged under Sosma, there is no bail.
Magistrate Siti Radziah Kamardin fixed Oct 26 for re-mention of the case.
The defence immediately filed for a High Court review of the magistrate’s decision but the application was rejected a few hours later.
In the High Court, Khairuddin and Chang had changed from lockup uniforms to their own clothes.
Their lawyer told waiting pressmen the court registrar had informed them that the High Court judge declined to review the application.
“So we have two options now. Take it to the Court of Appeal or to send a formal written application to the High Court challenging the ruling,” said Haniff.
He said they would send the written application by this afternoon at the latest and hope to have a hearing on that day or Thursday.
Among the family members at the court was Khairuddin’s wife, actress Datin Seri Umi Khalsom Rahmad Ali (pic), 42, better known as Umie Aida, who was clad in black scarf, white top and black trousers.
