Khairuddin, Chang's case transferred to High Court

The case of 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 Malaysia's banking and financial services has been transferred to the High Court.

Magistrate Siti Radzeah Kamarudin ordered the transfer of the case to the High Court today following an application by the prosecution, conducted by deputy public prosecutor Masri Mohd Daud.

The case was fixed for mention at the Magistrate's Court here today.

Lawyer Hanif Khatri Abdulla, representing both the accused, did not object, but requested the case to be brought for mention before the High Court today to enable him to raise the issue of bail for his clients.

Siti Radzeah said the matter would be fixed by the High Court.

Khairuddin, 53, and Chang, 65, who were clad in white T-shirt, smiled and waved to family members at the public gallery when they entered the court room today.

Also present was Khairuddin's wife, actress Datin Seri Umie Aida

Khairuddin and Chang were charged under Section 124L of the Penal Code (Act 547) read with Section 34 of the same Code, which carries a jail term of up to 15 years upon conviction.

They allegedly committed the offence at five locations between June 28 and Aug 26, this year.

The locations are 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; WaiChan Police station, Hongkong and Cantonment Police Headquarters, Singapore.

Last Aug 19, the High Court had referred the case to the Federal Court to determine whether the charge against them could be tried under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA).

The Federal Court had set Nov 3 to hear the matter.