Jamal lands in prison after court denies bail

Sungai Besar Umno division chief Jamal Md Yunos was today charged with resisting lawful arrest at the Magistrate's Court in Ampang. 

Jamal arrived at the court today at 4pm after which he had a light meal before having his statement recorded by the police.

He was then taken before the magistrate and charged under Section 224 of the Penal Code with resisting lawful arrest on May 25 at the Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital.

Jamal had fled police custody while his bail was being processed after he was charged in May with trespassing.

The court was convened at the hospital as he was seeking treatment there for back pain.

Jamal then turned fugitive before he was arrested and deported by Indonesian authorities this morning.

In court today, DPP Fatin Hadni Khairuddin objected to bail pointing out that he had fled before this. 

"Facts of this case show that before bail was posted, he fled. This is contempt of court. There is no guarantee that he will appear in court if bail is granted," she said.

Jamal's counsel Izzat Zabir told the court that leaving the hospital was a result of a miscommunication between him and his lawyers.  

"Our client now has promised that he will not violate the bail (conditions). That happened due to the polemics in politics. He did not have any intention to abscond," he said.

Counsel proposed conditional bail in that Jamal be required to present himself to the authorities at regular intervals until his hearing date.

Head of the prosecution, DPP Razali Che Ali, however, said that if Jamal had no intention to abscond on May 25, then he would have surrendered to police later on when he knew he was wanted.

"We had to seek help from Indonesia to arrest him. He did not surrender to the court. Hence, we strongly object to bail,” he said.

Jamal was then given the opportunity to address the magistrate to explain the May 25 incident.

"I had given full cooperation and prepared three bailors and their bank accounts to be given to the court.

"I had signed the police release form and thinking there was nothing else required, I left to withdraw money at the Tabung Haji building. The term 'run away' is incorrect as I could have run away earlier," he said.

'Harrowing' experience

Jamal said he does not have knowledge regarding the law and recounted how due to the change in political climate, the police and the MACC raided his home.

"I went to Sumatra in Indonesia and then I went to Jakarta where I was arrested. My experience in Indonesia was harrowing and I do not want a repeat," he said.

Jamal pledged not to repeat such episodes again, adding that he was scared and now a target for harsh action due to the change in government.

He also claimed that he has a bad back and cannot lie on the floor as another reason why he should be allowed bail.

Magistrate Mohamad Firdaus disallowed bail and set July 30 as the next mention date.

The Umno division chief, who was sent to the Sungai Buloh prison, stands to face a maximum two years' jail or a fine or both.

Jamal was arrested in Tebet, South Jakarta, on Monday and temporarily detained at the republic's central police headquarters before his deportation this morning.

He was first detained by local police on May 22 while seeking treatment at the Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital.

The former red-shirts leader is wanted for various offences, including under Section 290 of the Penal Code concerning public nuisance, and Section 34 of the Arms Act 1960 which concerns the carrying of a firearm while drunk or disorderly. -Mkini