Court sets RM500,000 bail for former ‘spy agency’ chief
Kenneth Tee
Malay Mail25 October 2018
Hasanah’s lawyer Datuk Shaharudin Ali speaks to reporters outside the Kuala Lumpur High Court October 25, 2018. — Picture by Ahmad ZamzahuriMore
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 — The Sessions Court imposed a bail of RM500,000 for Datuk Hasanah Abdul Hamid who earlier claimed trial today to criminal breach of trust (CBT) over the alleged embezzlement of US$12.1 million (RM50.4 million) of government funds.
Judge Azman Ahmad ordered the amount to be paid today with two sureties.
Azman also instructed Hasanah to surrender her international passport to the court until the trial is over.
The prosecution led by Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram initially sought for a bail of RM1 million, but Hasanah’s lawyer, Datuk Shaharudin Ali, sought for this to be reduced to RM300,000 by arguing that the former amount would effectively force her to remain in custody for the duration of the trial.
“We ask for leniency and sympathy, so that we can have access to Hasanah without having to visit her in prison,” Shaharudin said.
The prosecution rejected the offer as too low given the severity of the alleged embezzlement as well as her role in the agency, before the judge decided on the bail.
The case is set for mention on November 29.
