Former director-general of the Research Division in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Hasanah Ab Hamid is accompanied by a MACC officer at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today. – Bernama photo
KUALA LUMPUR: Former director-general of the Research Division in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Hasanah Ab Hamid, pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to a criminal breach of trust (CBT) charge involving US$12.1 million belonging to the Malaysian government.
Hasanah, who was the former head of the Malaysian External Intelligence Organisation (MEIO), made the plea before judge Azman Ahmad.
Hasanah, 61, in her capacity as a civil servant, was charged with committing the offence at the office of the Director-General, Research Division, Prime Minister’s Department (JPM), Kompleks JPM, Federal Government’s Administrative Centre, Putrajaya, between April 30 and May 9, 2018.
The charge was framed under Section 409 of the Penal Code which provides an imprisonment for up to 20 years, and whipping, and is liable to fine, if found guilty.
The prosecution, conducted by deputy public prosecutor Kamal Baharin Omar, offered bail of RM1 million, by lawyer Datuk Shaharudin Ali, representing Hasanah, requested the bail amount to be reduced to RM300,000 on grounds that she was a former director-general of intelligence organisation who had contributed a lot to the country.
Shaharudin also said the charge facing his client was not linked either to the cases involving former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and former Treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Irwan Serigar Abdullah, who had been charged in the same court earlier, or the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case.
“She is a 61-year-old woman, who is physically weak and not able to move like other health people. After she was released from remand last Sept 3, she could have fled or hid, but she chooses to remain in Selangor.
“The accused is also a former director-general at JPM who is now publicly known as the country’s key intelligence agent, whose job is similar to the that of the special branch and military intelligence. She had been trained and taught to safeguard the country’s security (as such), she could not have been afraid to flee from the country,” he added.
He also said that all of Hasanah’s bank accounts had been frozen, with her previous salary and pension in it.
Kamal Baharin, however, objected to the amount, saying that it was unreasonable considering the amount she was charged for, which was more than RM50 million, although it involved only one charge.
Azman then allowed Hasanah bail of RM500,000 in two sureties and to surrender her passport to the court.
The court fixed Nov 29 for mention.
Hasanah was detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission last Aug 28 to facilitate investigation of power abuse and misappropriation of government funds for the 14th general election and then remanded for six days. – Bernama