Chief registrar's office: CCTV shows bail counter open at disputed time

 

The Federal Court chief registrar's office has released a CCTV video to back up its claim that the Kuala Lumpur court complex bail counter did not close early on April 20.

"With reference to the media statement issued by this office dated April 23, a CCTV recording is submitted which shows that on April 20, the bail counter at the Kuala Lumpur court complex (which is located opposite the Maybank ATM machine) was still operating and receiving the public until 4pm," it said in a brief statement.

The office added that the footage was released to confirm the explanation in the media statement.

In the footage, members of the public can be seen entering and exiting the premises of its office.

The video was taken from a camera located near ATMs in the court complex, with the office entrance visible on the upper right corner of the video in the background.

This came after Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng called for the disclosure of CCTV footage to prove the Federal Court chief registrar's claim.

"The footage is important to prove that bail counter staff did no wrong," said Lim, who is also a lawyer.

Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng

In an immediate response to the release of the footage, Lim said the efforts by the chief registrar’s office are commendable.

“Other government departments should also install CCTVs at front-line counters for instances like this,” he said in a statement.

The chief registrar's office denied allegations that six individuals could not post bail because the bail counter at the Kuala Lumpur court complex closed at 2.53pm last Thursday and not 4pm as expected.

As it was a long weekend, the six spent Friday to Sunday in custody. Bail was finally processed on Monday, which incidentally was a public holiday.

According to the chief registrar's office, bail was supposed to be arranged for 10 individuals last Friday; however, the bailors for the six were not present.

The chief registrar’s office said the presence of bailors to process bail for the accused is part of a procedure that must be adhered to because their presence enables the court to know the identity of the bailor who is responsible for it. - Mkini