This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on November 19, 2015.

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court yesterday allowed bail for former Umno leader Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan and lawyer Matthias Chang, who were charged with sabotaging the Malaysian economy, and ruled that it was not a security offence.

“As such, procedures under [the] Security Offences (Special Measures) 2012 (Sosma) could not be applied on them,” Judge Datuk Mohd Azman Husin said in allowing the duo’s application.

He released them on RM10,000 bail each, and ordered the trial to commence in the Sessions Court.

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who was present in court yesterday morning to lend support to his former aide and Khairuddin, said he had always maintained that there was no offence and the use of Sosma was not correct.

“I am very glad as I thought there is no case. I always thought there is no case under that law (Sosma). Justice has been done,” he told reporters.

Dr Mahathir, his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali and former minister Tan Sri Sanusi Junid were among those present in the packed courtroom yesterday.

The judge yesterday said Parliament had never intended the charge under Section 124L of the Penal Code to be a security offence. The charge under this section carries a jail term of up to 15 years upon conviction.

“They cannot be denied bail, and Sosma procedures cannot be used in their trial,” the judge said.

Deputy public prosecutor Masri Mohd Daud said the prosecution would appeal to the Court of Appeal.

Mohd Azman has fixed the matter for case management on Jan 12.

Khairuddin has been under detention since Sept 8 and Chang since Oct 8.

Chang was arrested at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, when he went there to visit Khairuddin, who was being held under Sosma. — The Malaysian Insider