Some of the suspects being brought to court. - Photo courtesy of Sinar Harian
KUALA LUMPUR: Fourteen individuals who allegedly kidnapped a Palestinian in a phone-hacking conspiracy have been granted bail by the High Court.
High Court Justice K. Muniandy allowed bail at RM50,000 in two sureties for each of them after hearing submissions on their bail application.
"Each accused is allowed bail. The charge against them is serious and a bail of RM50,000 in two sureties is fixed to ensure their attendance," he said in his decision here on Thursday (Nov 28).
The court also imposed additional conditions whereby the accused persons were ordered to report monthly to the nearest police station and to surrender their passport to the court.
Justice Muniandy also issued a gag order on the accused persons to prevent them from commenting or discussing the case in any form of media, publication or social media.
"Each accused is reminded not to engaged in any form of communication with the prosecution witnesses, intended or otherwise, and any other individuals who may or may not be related to the offence charged.
"Any form of temperance, intimidation and contravention of the conditions of the bail imposed shall entitle this court to revoke the bail at once," Muniandy said.
Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Badius Zaman Ahmad offered bail at RM200,000 each due to the gravity of the offence.
"A RM200,000 bail sum is reasonable as the charge against them is framed under Section 3 of the Kidnapping Act.
"A bail sum that is too low will be a laughing stock. This case has attracted wide attention, not only in our country," he added.
Meanwhile, lawyers Kelvinder Singh Sidhu, Adi Zulkarnain Zulkafli, Goh Cia Yee, Muhammad Amin Abdullah and Wan Muhd Ariff Ameer Wan Normazlan, submitted that the suggested bail was excessive and that bail should not be punitive as their clients were innocent until proven guilty.
They said their clients have been detained in prison for two years and some of them have had their assets frozen after being charged, besides having medical issues and young children.
They proposed a bail of between RM20,000 and RM30,000 each and said their clients were ready to comply with the bail's additional conditions.
The 14 individuals are Mohamad Norakmal Hassan, Dody Junaidi, Tengku Arif Bongsu Tengku Hamid, Mohamad Naziree Mustapha, Faizull Hardey Mohd Isa, Muhammad Iqmal Abdul Rahis, Mohamad Sufian Saly, Mohd Zaidi Mohd Zain, Tengku Hazarul Ismail Tengku Hamid, Mohd Azwan Jamaludin, Raibafie Amdan, Muhammad Al Hatim Mohd Fauzi, Edy Ko'im Said and Nidarahayu Zainal.
They are accused of kidnapping Omar ZM Al-Belbaisy, 31, in September 2022, to force him to deactivate computer software and hack into mobile phones.
All the accused were represented by lawyers Kelvinder Singh Sidhu, Adi Zulkarnain Zulkafli, Goh Cia Yee, Muhammad Amin Abdullah and Wan Muhd Ariff Ameer Wan Normazlan.
The court set Jan 23 for mention and maintained the previously fixed trial dates from July 7 to 11 next year.
In October 2022, 11 suspects were charged with kidnapping Omar at Jalan Mayang on September 28, 2022.
Three more were charged later, separately, with the same offence.
