Ex-spy chief remanded 5 days

Noel Achariam Noel Achariam Updated 7 years ago · Published on 29 Aug 2018 12:00PM · 6 Comments

Hasanah Abdul Hamid once headed the intelligence unit in the Prime Minister's Department under the Najib Razak administration. She is seen at the Putrajaya magistrates’ court today. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, August 29, 2018.

FORMER intelligence chief Hasanah Abdul Hamid has been remanded by the Putrajaya magistrates’ court for five days from today to facilitate investigation into a corruption case.

Clad in the orange Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) lock-up attire and wearing a purple scarf, Hasanah was brought to the courthouse at 9.10am.

Hasanah, who was handcuffed, was escorted by MACC officers and her counsel. 

Her lawyer, Shaharudin Ali, said that the deputy public prosecutor had asked for seven days but magistrate Wira Abdul Halim allowed only five days. 

“The DPP has also filed a motion to stop me from seeing my client for the duration of the remand.

“The court has allowed it and it doesn’t make sense. 

“I will be filing an objection with the high court to challenge this,” he said at the Palace of Justice today. 

The remand order is in respect to Section 23 (1) of the MACC Act 2009 which criminalises the use of office or position for gratification.

Hasanah was detained to assist in investigations into the arrest of seven administrative and diplomatic officers from the Prime Minister’s Department for allegedly misusing 14th general election funds.

Shahrudin said the DPP had invoked Section 28 A(8) of the penal code which allowed for the detainee to be denied his right to see his lawyer.

“The instructions from Hasnah are to challenge that and get a ruling from the high court or Federal Court.

“This goes against the federal constitution which grant a person the right to counsel.”

Shahrudin said the DPP had argued that the suspects would flee if his client were to meet his lawyer.

“The DDP also gave the reason that evidence might go missing or be destroyed. 

“This (DDP reasoning) has got nothing to do with the lawyer (representing Hasnah).

“These are issues the high court has to answer.”

Shahrudin asked the judge how was he and his client expected to prepare for court if they could not meet.

“Obviously, the court did not consider that. But we will wait and see.” – August 29, 2018.  

Sign up or sign in here to comment.

Comments

  • Orange is the new black

    Posted 7 years ago by David Churme · Reply

  • Why do they have to wear that orange outfit? It's demeaning.

    Posted 7 years ago by Simple Sulaiman · Reply

  • It is ATTITUDE n LOVE towards a country that make a Malaysian Patriotic NOT RACE N RELIGION it is getting more CLEAR n TRUE how very UNPATRIOTIC n NO LOVE FOR MALAYSIA the Malay Race is They have become GREEDY LIKE DOGS also POWER CRAZY The Malay Race esp BN n UMNO have forgotten that the CREATOR RULES EARTH

    Posted 7 years ago by Tharan Singh · Reply

    • Believe me, its not the race at all. So its not right for anyone to make a conclusion that Malay is so and so.

      Posted 7 years ago by Benjamin Denis Golimbi · Reply

  • wish si "kepit" was also given the same Orange attire and remand as them

    Posted 7 years ago by Edi suleiman · Reply

  • Sorry Friends not ALL MALAYS only those in BN n UMNO I APOLOGISE for my statement I too hv alot of good malay friends n collegue in office who are reasonable

    Posted 7 years ago by Tharan Singh · Reply