Former cop withdraws appeal against conviction for withholding security info
KOTA KINABALU: A former police special branch (SB) personnel, convicted of intentionally withholding vital security information relating to the Sulu gunmen’s intrusion into Sabah, has decided to withdraw his appeal at the Federal Court here yesterday.
Detective corporal Hassan Hj Ali Basari, 66, who appeared before a panel of five judges chaired by Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Ahmad Haji Maarop, together with Tan Sri Azahar Mohamed, Dato’ Alizatul Khair Osman Khairuddin, Dato’ Setia Haji Mohd. Zawawi Salleh and Dato’ Rhodzariah Bujang, maintained his stand to withdraw his appeal upon hearing the explanation from the court.
Hassan, who was given an opportunity to address the court, claimed that he was allegedly betrayed, oppressed and listed as a ‘black sheep’ in this case.
Having served his jail term and released in November 2017, Hassan said that all the evidence adduced in the case were allegedly lies.
The court then explained to Hassan that he should have addressed his claims while the case was still at the High Court and not at this stage.
The court also asked Hassan if he still wanted to proceed with his appeal, despite having filed an application of withdrawal, as he can still proceed with his appeal.
Earlier, counsel Ram Singh, for the appellant, had told the court that they had filed a notice of withdrawal of the appeal but that his client wished to address something to the court.
On August 6, 2013, the High Court here imposed the maximum custodial sentence of seven years on Hassan after he was found guilty of committing the said offence under Section 130M of the Penal Code.
The indictment carried a jail term of up to seven years or a fine or both, upon conviction.
Hassan, who was attached to the special branch unit in Lahad Datu, was convicted for omission to submit information relating to terrorism acts to the office of the SB branch chief at Lahad Datu police station between January and March, 2013.
The trial judge had ordered Hassan to serve his jail term from the date of his arrest. Hassan had then appealed to the Court of Appeal here against his conviction and sentence but it was dismissed on March 31, 2017.