The Petaling Jaya High Court has set next Tuesday to hear a bail reduction application by N Tharmendran, the man at the centre of the alleged theft of two RMAF jet engines.

air force f-5 jet engine missing two charged 060110 tharmendran Tharmendran ( right ) is requesting the court to lower the RM150,000 bail to no more than RM20,000.

High Court judge Su Geok Yiam has today allowed a request from deputy public prosecutor Hamidi Mohd Noh for a postponement for him to prepare an affidavit in response to the defence's application.

Hamidi also said that he could not produce the reply affidavit today, because of "miscommunication" between him and his superiors.

Judge Su, after deciding the new hearing date, said that the prosecution ,meanwhile, could use the time to sort out any miscommunication issues between them.

Counsel N Surendran expressed the hope that the court would grant his client's application to reduce the bail.

New evidence

In providing the grounds for the reduction yesterday, Surendran said that his client was allegedly tortured when he was first detained, casting doubt over claims of his involvement in the case.

snakes pc 210307 n surendran Surendran ( left ) added that the defence would introduce new evidence.

"We are now in possession of incriminating documents relating to the theft. We are gathering more information and documents, and we believe that more evidence will surface," he said when contacted by Malaysiakini .

He added that new witnesses would be introduced.

"We will bring them to lodge a police report so that investigations can be carried out thoroughly. We believe that more people were involved in the theft," he said.

Tharmendran, 42, is jointly charged with company director Rajanad Prasad Kusy, 38, over the theft of two RMAF F5 J85-21 jet engines which were recently recovered .

Both pleaded not guilty to the charges. The hearing has been set for July 19 at the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court.

This is the second time  thatTharmendran is asking for his bail to be reduced, the first was in March through his previous lawyer, Rakhbir Singh.

NONE Rakhbir had verbally requested that bail be brought downto RM10,000, arguing that the quantum set by the Sessions Court did not commensurate with the value of the stolen jet engines.

He also said that accused cannot afford the amount as he is only a sergeant with the RMAF and has an aged father to care for.

Tharmendran's father N Nagarajah, 71 ( left ), has lamented that he may have to sell the family home in Seremban to raise the hefty bail for his son.

Sessions Court judge Aslam Zainuddin had turned down the request.