Iranian wanted by Thai govt fails to get his release

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KUALA LUMPUR: An Iranian, Sedaghatzadeh Masoud, who is wanted by the Thai government over an alleged bomb plot, yesterday failed to get his release after the High Court here dismissed his habeas corpus application.

Judge Amelia Tee Hong Geok Abdullah made the decision after hearing submissions from lawyer Latheefa Koya, representing Masoud, and deputy public prosecutor Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar who acted for the Attorney-General’s (AG) Chambers.

Masoud, 31, currently detained at the Sungai Buloh prison, filed the habeas corpus application on July 9.

He named Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Sungai Buloh prison director and the public prosecutor as respondents.

He filed the application after the Sessions Court, on June 25, allowed an application by the Malaysian authorities to extradite him back to Thailand upon a request from the Thai government.

In granting the extradition application, the Sessions Court judge ruled that the prosecution had shown that Masoud was a fugitive criminal and wanted by authorities in Thailand.

Following which, Masoud was ordered to be held at Sungai Buloh prison pending an order from the Home Minister.

He was detained under the Immigration Act on Feb 15 at the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) in Sepang upon arrival from Bangkok while on transit to Iran.

He was detained on a request from Bangkok after the Thai authorities suspected that he had links with two Iranians who were nabbed following an explosion at a house in the Thai capital on Feb 14.

Earlier in her submission, Latheefa said that Sessions Court’s ruling in allowing the extradition application was
wrong on the basis that a prima facie case had not been established against Masoud as required under Section 19(4) of Extradition Act 1992.

She contended that Masoud had gone to Pattaya on a social visit and that by meeting his Iranian friend did not make him guilty of any offence.

Meanwhile, Mohd Dusuki said that the respondents had proven a prima facie case by establishing and fulfilling all the requirements under Section 19 of the Extradition Act to extradite Masoud to Thailand.

He said the basis for the extradition request was that Masoud was a fugitive criminal and he was wanted to stand trial in a Thai court as stated in the warrant of arrest issued by the South Bangkok Criminal Court on Feb 15.

Latheefa told reporters later that she would get instruction from her client whether to appeal against today’s outcome. — Bernama