BY Fadley Faisal

The High Court on May 24 upheld the Intermediate Court’s decision in revoking bail from a theft suspect on trial.

Chief Justice Dato Seri Paduka Steven Chong, on dismissing Shambri bin Haji Tunjul’s application, said the Intermediate Court was right to revoke Shambri’s bail to protect the public from ‘real risks’ of the defendant committing offences if not remanded.

“(Shambri’s) interest to remain on bail in order to support his family is overridden,” the Chief Justice decided after taking into account the strength of the prosecution’s case in the ongoing trial.

The trial’s Prosecutor Aeny Zullizam, responding on behalf of the Public Prosecutor in the application, revealed that Shambri denied two theft and one trespassing charges on May 25, 2019 when he was released on bail pending the hearings.

Bail conditions imposed included not to “get arrested or commit other offences”.

Trial began on November 9, 2020 but was interrupted when Shambri fell ill and dragged further by the ongoing global pandemic.

The court was forced to adjourned the trial to resume on July 25 this year.

Before the time to resume trial came, Shambri was arrested on December 28, 2021 by the police on suspicions of committing a theft offence.

He was then charged again in court with another theft offence.

This led to his application in the High Court against the Intermediate Court’s decision.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin