KUALA LUMPUR: The sessions court here will deliver its decision tomorrow on whether former Batu Kawan Umno vice-chairman Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan and lawyer Matthias Chang should be acquitted or given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal, in their state economic sabotage case.
Judge Wan Mohd Norisham Wan Yaakob will deliver the decision after having heard lengthy submissions from counsels Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla and Zainur Zakaria, as well as deputy public prosecutor Awang Armadajaya Awang Mahmud.
When the case came up for trial today, Awang told the court that the prosecution was pursuing the case in the interest of justice and fairness. He also said that both the accused should be given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal.
Haniff, representing Khairuddin, and Zainur, who appeared for Chang, made an application to have both men acquitted.
They argued that a discharge not amounting to an acquittal would mean that a charge would still hang over their clients’ heads, and that the prosecution could reopen the case in 10 or 20 years' time.
'Without an acquittal, they could be charged again later. The prosecution is also deferring the matter," the counsels argued.
Khairuddin and Chang were charged with attempting to sabotage the nation's banking and financial services.
The duo was previously detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma).
They were alleged to have committed the offence in five countries – France, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Hong Kong (China) and Singapore – between June 28 and Aug 26, 2015.
On April 27 this year, the Federal Court ruled that the charge of 'economic sabotage' levelled against both men did not fall under Sosma, and that their charge under Section 124L of the Penal Code would proceed for trial at the sessions court.