Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has lauded the High Court's decision that the sabotage charge against Matthias Chang and Khairuddin Abu Hassan is not a case under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma).

"Justice has been done. I hope this will continue to be the stand of the judges that they will be neutral when making decisions," Mahathir said.

Mahathir was in the Kuala Lumpur High Court public gallery for the case today with his wife Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali.

Chang was Mahathir's political secretary, while Khairuddin is a recently sacked Umno division deputy chief.

"I always thought there is no case under that law (Sosma)," he said.

Khairuddin was seen bending down to kiss Mahathir and Siti Hasmah's hands in the customary Malay tradition of salam , reserved for elders.

Also present in court was former Kedah Menteri Besar Sanusi Junid.

The High Court today granted bail to the duo, and instructed that they stand trial for the charge of sabotaging financial services at the Sessions Court.

The duo have been detained for more than one month, after authorities categorised the charged offence as a security offence.

Sabotaging financial services

Chang earlier complained of being placed in a cell with HIV positive inmates, in deplorable conditions at the Sungai Buloh prison.

The Prisons Department denied this .

Khairuddin and Chang are charged with sabotaging financial services when he lodged several complaints to international authorities against 1MDB.

Chang, a lawyer, was accompanying Khairuddin when he lodged the complaints as Khairuddin's legal counsel.

Mahathir is on a mission to oust Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, whom he said is undermining the country's economy through Najib's brainchild 1MDB.

The fledgling 1MDB found itself cash-strapped when faced with repayment of its mammoth RM42 billion debt.

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