Prosecution to apply for in-camera proceedings

KUALA LUMPUR: The prosecution in the criminal breach of trust case involving a former Malaysian External Intelligence Organisation (MEIO) chief will be applying to the High Court for the proceedings to be conducted in camera.

Deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Iskandar Ahmad informed Justice Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh that the prosecution would be requesting for in-camera proceedings for several witnesses who will be testifying in the trial of Datuk Hasanah Abdul Hamid on grounds of national security issues.

“We also would like to ask the court to maintain the hearing proceedings which are expected to commence on Oct 5,” he said.

In camera refers to the court proceedings, or parts of it, conducted without the presence of the public or others unrelated to the case.

DPP Iskandar also told the court yesterday that the prosecution had submitted 22 additional documents to the defence team so far.

Hasanah’s lawyer Hamdan Hamzah confirmed that the defence had received the documents.

“We also asked the court to fix ample time for us to review the prosecution’s application,” he said.

The court fixed Oct 5 to hear the application.

When met outside the court, DPP Iskandar said that about 15 prosecution witnesses were expected to testify in camera during the proceedings.

On Oct 25, 2018, Hasanah pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court to a CBT charge involving US$12.1mil (RM50.4mil) belonging to the Malaysian government.

She was released on RM500,000 bail.