The High Court in Kuala Lumpur has fixed April 13 to hear prosecution's preliminary objection over an application by former Umno leader Khairuddin Abu Hassan to set aside the financial sabotage charge he is facing.

The date was fixed by deputy registrar Nor Aini Yusoff today in chambers after meeting both parties.

Deputy public prosecutors Mohd Masri Daud and Abazafree Mohd Abbas informed the court that the prosecution would make an objection against the application.

Lawyers Haniff Khatri Abdulla and Fahmi Moin, who are acting for Khairuddin, told reporters that the prosecution has been asked to make a formal application by March 1.

Parties are required to submit their submission by April 6.

Khairuddin had earlier this month applied to set aside the charge on the grounds that it was defective following questions surrounding attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali's appointment on July 29 replacing Abdul Gani Patail.

The 54-year-old former Batu Kawan Umno division vice-chief claimed Apandi's appointment was illegal and contrary to Article 145 (6) of the Federal Constitution.

Khairuddin and his lawyer, Matthias Chang ( photo ), 65, have been charged with trying to sabotage Malaysia's financial and banking industry for making reports related to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's 1MDB fiasco in France, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Hong Kong and Singapore between June 28 and Aug 26 last year.

On Nov 18, Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohd Azman Hussin ruled that the charge does not fall under the Security Offences (Special Measures) 2012 Act and ordered the case be heard at the Sessions Court. Both Khairuddin and Chang were granted bail .

However, the prosecution is appealing the decision and the case is fixed for hearing on Feb 26 at the Court of Appeal.