The Seremban Sessions Court and Magistrate's Court have granted Malaysian Crime Watch Task Force (MyWatch) chairperson R Sri Sanjeevan a total bail of RM18,000.

The courts also ordered Sanjeevan to surrender his passport, his lawyer Gobind Singh Deo said in a text message to Malaysiakini.

"The Sessions Court granted RM8,000 bail while the Magistrate's Court ordered him to post RM10,000 bail," said Gobind.

The High Court in Kuala Lumpur yesterday allowed Sanjeevan’s habeas corpus application, and declared his remand under the Prevention of Crime Act 1959 (Poca) null and void.

Judicial commissioner Mohamad Shariff Abu Samah ruled yesterday that procedures for detaining a person must be followed to the letter.

“As there are doubts regarding the order giving rise to several interpretations, the court allows the (habeas corpus) application and orders that Sanjeevan be released with immediate effect,” he ruled yesterday.

Gobind told reporters in Kuala Lumpur today that Sanjeevan was not re-arrested after his bail was posted.

“He went straight to a temple on his release,” he said.

Sanjeevan was first arrested in Nilai on June 22. He has been in police custody ever since, as he was released and immediately re-arrested another eight times before being remanded under Poca and released today.

Sanjeevan was charged at the Sessions Court on July 19, with having a non-Malaysian citizen in his employment without the necessary permit.

If convicted, he stands to face a fine of between RM10,000 and RM50,000, a jail of up to 12 months, or both.

He was also charged at the Magistrate's Court with extorting RM25,000 from one Gong Toh Hon, by threatening to expose the latter's supposed illegal gambling operations.