Khairuddin, Matthias Chang charged with sabotaging Malaysian banking, financial services

The Magistrate's Court today charged former UMNO Batu Kawan deputy chief Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan and his lawyer, Matthias Chang with sabotaging the country's banking and financial services.

They were charged under Section 124(L) for actions deemed detrimental to the country's banking and financial services.

No plea was recorded.

The court also granted two weeks for the prosecution to gather evidence to sanction the case of the duo who are currently being held under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012, or SOSMA.

Lawyer Haniff Khatri who is representing Khairuddin said the court has to decide whether or not the case falls under SOSMA.

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"This is important to ensure justice for my client, who is currently being detained," Haniff told reporters outside courtroom today.

After the decision was announced, Haniff said his team will be filing a review of the decision at the High Court today.

"We hope that the court will have time to review the decision today," he said.

Magistrate Siti Radziah has also fixed October 26 for re-mention of the case.

On Sept 18, Khairuddin was arrested by the police about 7.30pm at his Mont Kiara residence, a few days before he was scheduled to meet Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents in America.

On Sept 23, Khairuddin was re-arrested at the Kuala Lumpur High Court under SOSMA for acts of sabotage.

He was rearrested under Section 124K and 124L of the Penal Code after being released from the previous charge under Section 124C of the Penal Code.

Khairuddin had before this filed a habeas corpus application on Sept 28, naming Dang Wangi deputy police chief Superintendent Habibi Majinji, Dang Wangi district police chief, the Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar and the government as respondents.

The court has set Oct 13 to hear the case.

His lawyer Chang, meanwhile was detained on Oct 8 after visiting Khairuddin at the Dang Wangi police station.

Chang who is also Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's former political secretary, is believed to be on a hunger strike to protest his detention.