Chief Registrar’s Office releases CCTV footage of KL court complex, recording shows bail counter open at disputed time

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 — The Office of the Chief Registrar Federal Court of Malaysia has today released close-circuit television footage (CCTV) to further disprove claims that the early closure of a bail counter at the Kuala Lumpur court complex here forced six accused to spend the long Hari Raya Aidilfitri weekend in jail.

In a statement, the Chief Registrar’s Office said the release of the CCTV footage was to further back up its refutation in a press release issued on April 23.

“With reference to the media statement issued by this office dated April 23, a CCTV recording is hereby submitted which shows that on April 20, the bail counter at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex (which is located opposite the Maybank ATM) was in operation and receiving the public until 4pm,” it said.

In the one-minute-and-22-second video, members of the public could be observed entering and exiting the bail counter between 3.31pm and 3.42pm.

The latest development comes after Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng called on the court to release the CCTV footage to ascertain the exact time of the counter’s closure.

Following today’s disclosure, Lim immediately responded by praising the move and urged other government departments to install surveillance cameras at front line counters for similar incidents in the future.

“The Chief Registrar’s Office made a commendable effort to release the CCTV footage to prove that its bail counter at Kuala Lumpur court building did not close early on last Thursday contrary to what was alleged by a lawyer for six criminal suspects,” he said in a statement.

In the April 23 statement, the Chief Registrar’s Office clarified that the allegations involved 10 accused and all were granted bail by the court; further noting only four bailors were present for four of the accused while the bailors for the remaining six accused were not in court to proceed with the bail procedure.

In a news report, the counsel for the six accused had claimed the bail counter closed at 2.53pm despite a notice stating that it will operate until 4.30pm.

As a result, the six accused — two of whom were said to require medical attention — were allegedly denied their constitutional right to post bail and had to spend time behind bars.

The six were among 10 accused who had claimed trial to criminal conspiracy with the intention to cheat.

The Chief Registrar’s Office said the presence of a bailor is part of the standard procedure that must be adhered to in order for the court to affirm their identities during the process.

Explaining further, the presence of a bailor is required in order for the court to verbally convey the terms and responsibility throughout the bail period.