Unacceptable to close bail counter earlier than usual – Hanipa

It is unacceptable for the registration counter that processes bails to be closed earlier than usual, said former deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Mohamed Hanipa Maidin.

This comes after six Malaysians, who are facing charges of criminal conspiracy with the intention to cheat, were reportedly forced to spend the long weekend in prison after they could not post bail due to the early closure of the bail counter.

Hanipa (above) said in a statement today that it is absolutely illegal to deny the six men from posting bail when the court had already granted the bail to them.

“Denying such persons from posting the necessary bail may be unconstitutional as it infringes Article 5(1) of the Federal Constitution which jealously protects the right to liberty and life of a person,” he said.

The former Sepang MP is of the view that the relevant parties, including the government, may be exposed to civil suits for a slew of actions that includes tort of misfeasance of public office.

Office hours

Previously, Free Malaysia Today reported that the six individuals - Liew Zhen Ying, Koh Zheng Yan, Renee Low, Foo Wei Xuan, Liew Zhen Shen and Wong Wai Hong - will spend the next four days in the Sungai Buloh prison.

Meanwhile, another four - Law Si Kai, Tan Jia Jing, Ching Chung Haw and Xu Shao Rong, who were jointly charged with the six men - managed to post their bail in time.

Lawyer Alvin Tan, who represented the men, alleged that the court officials had shuttered the registration counter at 2.53pm. This is despite a notice stating that office hours were until 4.30pm.

Alvin told the news portal the families of the accused had appealed to the counter staff but to no avail.

“The counter staff said that it was closed pursuant to a directive from the Kuala Lumpur court management,” he was quoted as saying.

He added that two of the accused, who were denied bail, were ill.

The 10 men had pleaded not guilty to the charges when they appeared before magistrate Wong Chai Sia yesterday afternoon, which the latter had allowed bail at RM4,000 each. - Mkini