The court ruled that in cases of conflicting precedents regarding bail, the interpretation favoring the accused should be adopted, emphasizing the fundamental right to bail and proportionality of conditions.

Headnote:(A) Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 - Section 26A - Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 - Section 13 - Accused charged with human smuggling, maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment. Court granted bail despite DPP's objection, following precedent that favors accused in bail matters. (Paras 1-16)

(B) Right to bail - Fundamental liberty under art 5(1) of the Federal Constitution - Interpretation favoring accused to be adopted when conflicting precedents exist. (Paras 7-8)

(C) Conditions of bail - Amount set at RM20,000.00 for each accused, justified by the serious nature of the offence and public interest in ensuring attendance at trial. (Paras 13-14)

Facts of the case:
The accused are charged with smuggling 25 Myanmar nationals into Malaysia; bail was contested by the DPP but granted by the court.

Findings of Court:
Bail granted with conditions, including reporting to police and surrendering travel documents.

Issues: The right to bail under conflicting interpretations of law and the conditions for bail.

Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized the presumption of innocence and the need for bail conditions to reflect the seriousness of the charges while protecting public interest.

Result: Bail granted.

JUDGMENT

Muniandy Kannyappan J:

[1] The accused persons in this case were charged for an offence of human smuggling, which is known under the law, to wit, s 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (Act 670).

[2] Charge against each of the accused persons is reproduced below as it is uniquely worded:

PP v. MUHAMAD AZMI BIN YUSUF (041117031021)
PERTUDUHAN
BAHAWA KAMU BERSAMA-SAMA DENGAN SEORANG YANG MASIH BEBAS PADA 2 AUGUST 2022, JAM LEBIH KURANG 12.05 TENGAH HARI, DIJALAN MANJOI 3,TAMAN SRI KUCHING,DALAM DAERAH SENTUL, DALAM WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN KUALA LUMPUR, DALAM MENCAPAI NIAT BERSAMA, TELAH MELAKUKAN PENYELUDUPAN MIGRAN SERAMAI (25) ORANG WARGANEGARA MYANMAR (SEPERTIMANA LAMPIRAN B), DAN DENGAN YANG DEMIKIAN KAMU TELAH MELAKUKAN KESALAHAN YANG BOLEH DIHUKUM DI BAWAH S 26A AKTA ANTI PEMERDAGANGAN ORANG DAN ANTI PENYELUDUPAN MIGRAN 2007 DIBACA BERSAMA S 34 KANUN KESEKSAAN.
HUKUMAN PENJARA SELAMA TEMPOH TIDAK MELEBIHI DUA PULUH TAHUN, DAN BOLEH JUGA DIKENAKAN DENDA, ATAU KEDUA-DUANYA.
PP v. MOHD FAIZ BIN ISMAIL
PERTUDUHAN
BAHAWA KAMU BERSAMA-SAMA MUHAMAD AZMI BIN YUSUF (NO. K/P: 041117031021) YANG TELAH DITUDUH PADA 2 AUGUST 2022, TELAH PADA JAM LEBIH KURANG 12.05 TENGAH HARI, DIJALAN MANJOI 3,TAMAN SRI KUCHING,DALAM DAERAH SENTUL, DALAM WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN KUALA LUMPUR, DALAM MENCAPAI NIAT BERSAMA, TELAH MELAKUKAN PENYELUDUPAN MIGRAN SERAMAI (25) ORANG WARGANEGARA MYANMAR (SEPERTIMANA LAMPIRAN B), DAN DENGAN YANG DEMIKIAN KAMU TELAH MELAKUKAN KESALAHAN YANG BOLEH DIHUKUM DI BAWAH S 26A AKTA ANTI PEMERDAGANGAN ORANG DAN ANTI PENYELUDUPAN MIGRAN 2007 DIBACA BERSAMA S 34 KANUN KESEKSAAN.
HUKUMAN PENJARA SELAMA TEMPOH TIDAK MELEBIHI DUA PULUH TAHUN, DAN BOLEH JUGA DIKENAKAN DENDA, ATAU KEDUA-DUANYA

[3] During case management on 22 January 2024, the following took place:

Untuk Pengurusan Kes
TK Pang untuk OKT 1
Sazlin Hidayu untuk OKT 2
TPR
Representasi telah ditolak
Mohon tarikh perbicaraan ditetapkan.
PB - OKT1 dan OKT2
Apply for bail
Submission filed - 31 December 2023
Served on DPP and Court
Reliance on submission
Section 26A of ATIPSOM Act - maximum 20 years imprisonment
Non-bailable offence
Section 13 of SOSMA Act - s 388 CPC prevails.
Two Federal Court decisions - Koh Chin Wah v. PP ; Samad Yamin v. PP.
OKT 1 - at time of offence 17 years old; now 18 years old - he is a youthful offender - smuggling of migrants - 25 migrants - Nationality - Malaysian and the migrants are Myanmar - Migrants are all deported to their own country. None of them here. Depositions recorded - received all of them. Unable to interfere with them - impossible.
OKT 2 - Jenis kesalahan - sama dengan OKT 1. Dituduh kerana niat bersama. OKT 2 - umur 32 tahun.
TPR
Hujahan baru diterima.
In the case of Koh Chin Wah - no written judgment. Object to bail to be granted.
DC for OKT 1 - the sister is willing to be bailor - also pray for an amount of RM10,000.00.
For OKT 2 - mother and sister are willing to bail - pray for an amount of RM10,000.00 DPP If bail is allowed - pray for an amount of RM30,000.00.
Both accused to surrender their passport and to report to the police station once a week.
DC
Mohon lapor kepada Balai Polis sebulan sekali.
Court -
Bail granted with the following conditions
1. Bail bond for an amount of RM20,000.00 with two sureties.
2. Accused persons to report to the nearest police station - OKT 1 - BP Pasir Mas Kelantan OKT 2 - BP Pasir Mas Kelantan - once a month
3. Travel documents to be surrendered to the Court as condition of bail.
To - 6, 7, 8 dan 9 May 2024 for trial.
PB OKT 2 menarik diri sebagai peguambela.
PB OKT 1 akan mewakili OKT 2 seterusnya.

[4] Flowing from the above, the following are apparent:

• Both accused persons were released on bail despite objection by the deputy public prosecutor (DPP).
• As conditions of bail, this Court had imposed the following:
• Each of the accused persons are to execute a bail bond and the amount ordered was RM20,000.00 each.
• As for the number of sureties to the bail, two are allowed and

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2024 MarsdenLR 4266

HIGH COURT MALAYA KUALA LUMPURPP – AppellantVersusMUHAMAD AZMI YUSUF & ANOR – Respondent[Criminal Case No: WA-45SOM-1-01/2023 & WA-45SOM-2-01/2023]

The court ruled that in cases of conflicting precedents regarding bail, the interpretation favoring the accused should be adopted, emphasizing the fundamental right to bail and proportionality of conditions.

Cases Referred (1)

HIGH COURT MALAYA KUALA LUMPUR
PP – Appellant
Versus
MUHAMAD AZMI YUSUF & ANOR – Respondent
[Criminal Case No: WA-45SOM-1-01/2023 & WA-45SOM-2-01/2023]