(Oct 12): The High Court today declined to hear Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan and Matthias Chang's application to review the charges against them for attempted sabotage of the economy.

Lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdullah said judge Datuk Azman Husin wanted the two accused to file formal applications before the matter was adjudicated.

Haniff said they would file a notice of motion and affidavits in support of the review application and certificate of urgency on why the matter must be heard without delay.

"We will do it tomorrow. Hopefully the court can hear the matter tomorrow afternoon or on Thursday. Wednesday is out because it is a public holiday," he told reporters after being informed of the rejection by the court registrar.

Lawyers appearing for the two are of the view that their clients should not be tried under anti-terrorism law procedures.

They said Section 124L of the Penal Code did not fall within the ambit of security offences and as such, procedures under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) had been abused.

The lawyers said their clients were also entitled to bail.

Khairuddin and Chang were charged today in the magistrate's court with attempting to sabotage the Malaysian economy and the country's financial and banking system.

They are accused of committing the offence in France, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Hong Kong and Singapore, between June 28 and August 26 this year.

Their conviction under the Penal Code carries a jail term of up to 15 years, but procedures under Sosma will be used instead of the Evidence Act as this is not considered a normal criminal proceeding. – The Malaysian Insider