The High Court here has issued an arrest warrant against former Malaysian External Investigation Organisation (MEIO) director-general Datuk Hasanah Abdul Hamid (pic) after she failed to turn up in court during a criminal breach of trust case mention.
Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah issued the arrest warrant after DPP Mahadhir Mohd Khairudin informed the court that Hasanah failed to give any reason for her absence.
“The accused is not here. She is out on bail in two sureties. However, the accused and both her bailors are absent today and there are no instructions regarding that.
“I apply for an arrest warrant to be issued against her,” Mahadhir said yesterday.
Hasanah’s lawyer Nur Aifaa Mohd Zain apologized to the court and said that Hasanah was absent because she had failed to inform her client of the court proceeding.
“I apologize for my mistake. As the lawyer, I should be informing my client that she must attend but I failed to do so. I hope she won’t be penalized for my action,” she said. The court, however, still issued the warrant and fixed June 26 for proceeding on the warrant.
When met by reporters, DPP Muhamad Iskandar Ahmad said the arrest warrant was issued as there was no reasonable excuse given to the court regarding Hasanah and her bailors’ absence.
Nur Aifaa told the press that there was a misunderstanding as the defense had assumed that there was no proceeding yesterday as the case had already been fixed for trial starting Feb 3 next year.
This was decided during the last proceeding on April 17.
Last year, Hasanah claimed trial to committing criminal breach of trust involving US$12.1mil in government funds.
She was charged in her capacity as a civil servant. She allegedly committed the offence at the office of the director-general, Research Division, Prime Minister’s Department in Putrajaya, between April 30 and May 9, 2018.
The charge, under Section 409 of the Penal Code, carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and whipping and fine, upon conviction.