DESPATCH rider S. Teeran who was last month charged with supporting and possessing items linked to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) last month, was denied bail today by the sessions court in Segamat.

Sessions judge Rasidah Roslee made the decision after hearing arguments from the defence counsel of the applicant A. Mathan and Deputy Public Prosecutor Suriani Ujang.

Rasidah, in her judgement, agreed with Suriani’s argument that bail could not be given especially involving cases of public interest and national security.

She said the duty of the sessions court too was to mention and manage the case before they were transferred to the High Court.

As such, she said the application for bail should be submitted to the High Court which had jurisdiction to decide on such cases.

The 38-year-old accused had applied for bail with the claim he suffered spinal problems. He had undergone surgery in July and said he needed a recuperative period of three to six months.

Earlier, Suriani said the application for bail should be rejected since the accused was charged under a case involving public interest and national security, other than dismissing the accused’s medical report as it was from a private hospital, namely, Oriental Melaka Straits Medical Centre.

She said the sessions court did not have the power to decide on the bail application as it was not under the jurisdiction of the court.

The court fixed December 19 for case management.

On October 29, Teran, who is attached to a law firm in Johor, was charged with supporting and possessing items linked to LTTE.

He was charged under Section 130 JB(1)(a) of the Penal Code which provides for jail of up to seven years or fine upon conviction. – Bernama, November 18, 2019.