.JPG "Former Malaysian External Intelligence Organisation chief Datuk Hasanah Abdul Hamid is pictured at the Kuala Lumpur High Court October 25, 2018. u00e2u20acu201d Picture by Firdaus Latif")
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 9 — The case involving former Research Division director-general in the Prime Minister’s Department (JPM), Datuk Hasanah Abdul Hamid, who is charged with criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving US$12.1 million belonging to the Malaysian government will be heard at the Sessions Court.
This came after deputy public prosecutor Muhamad Iskandar Ahmad, who prosecuted, informed High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali that the prosecution was withdrawing its application to transfer the case to the High Court following instruction from the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
Following which, Mohd Nazlan dismissed the prosecution’s application.
Earlier, Muhamad Iskandar informed the court that last January 4, he received a voice message sent through WhatsApp from Hasanah’s lawyer, Datuk Shaharudin Ali, requesting the prosecution to withdraw the application to transfer the case to the High Court.
He also said that on November 29 last year, the defence informed the court that they would file a notice of motion to transfer the case to the High Court.
“On last January 2, the prosecution filed the application and the following day (Jan 3), before Sessions Court judge Rozina Ayob, the defence said they had no objection, but yesterday, I received a message saying that they (defence ) objected to it.
“Suddenly the (defence) made a U-turn and said their client’s case only involved CBT. What would be Sessions Court judge perception of the action by the defence when the case goes back to the (Sessions) court. We (prosecution) are not happy with this,” said Muhamad Iskandar.
Meanwhile, Shaharudin admitted making the U-turn.
“It is not a problem if my client changed her mind after discussing the matter with her lawyer. The case involving my client is only for CBT and does not involve the country’s security, such as sabotage or espionage,” he added.
The Sessions Court had set February 21 to mention the case.
On October 25 last year, Hasanah, 61, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
She was charged in her capacity as a civil servant, with committing the offence at the office of the Director-General, Research Division, Prime Minister’s Department (JPM), Kompleks JPM, Federal Government’s Administrative Centre, Putrajaya, between April 30 and May 9, 2018. — Bernama
