KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 — Former Batu Kawan Umno division vice-chief Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan and lawyer Matthias Chang Wen Chieh who are charged with attempting to sabotage the country’s financial and banking services today failed in their bid to secure bail.

Their application for bail pending Nov 3 at the Federal Court to determine whether they should be tried under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA), was rejected by High Court Judge Datuk Mohd Azman Husin.

“The court is bound by Section 13 of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012, (SOSMA) which is not bailable. Therefore the two accused cannot be given bail,” he said.

The judge set Nov 5 for re mention of the case.

Earlier, counsel Zainur Zakaria who is representing Khairuddin and Chang submitted that there was no way for his clients to abscond as their passports had been impounded by the court.

But deputy public prosecutor Mohd Nordin Ismail objected, pointing out that the court was bound by Section 13 of the SOSMA and must wait for the federal court’s decision.

Khairuddin, 53, and Chang, 65, in handcuffs, were later seen chatting with their respective family members.

The former UMNO leader appeared sombre as he talked to his wife, actress Datin Seri Umie Aida Khairuddin and Chang allegedly committed the offences at 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, Hong Kong and Cantonment Police Headquarters, Singapore.

The charges under Section 124L of the Penal Code (Act 547) and read with Section 34 of the same Code, carry a maximum 15 years’ jail each, upon conviction. — Bernama