Details that the US$12.1 million involved in former spy chief Hasanah Ab Hamid’s criminal breach of trust case had allegedly been spent should be kept under wraps, her lawyer Shaharudin Ali (left in photo) said today.

He said the money may have come from foreign intelligence agencies, and thus its use should not be disclosed in open court.

“There is a question of whether the US$12 million mentioned in the charges belong to the Malaysian government or came from foreign countries, including foreign intelligence agencies, in which case - in my view - it ought to be secret or top secret and should not be disclosed in open court.

“I have been saying this since three, four months ago. Secret operations by national intelligence agencies can’t be trifled with and can’t be kicked around like football in this court.

“There are internal processes that would be used if money for intelligence operations are involved. It can’t be disclosed in court lightly. You can, but not lightly,” Shaharudin told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex today.

He added that he has yet to receive full instructions from his client.

Bail set at RM500,000

Hasanah is charged with committing criminal breach of trust in her capacity as Malaysian External Intelligence Organisation (MEIO) director, involving a sum of US$12.1 million belonging to the government.

She is accused of committing the crime between April 30 and May 9 this year. Her bail was set at RM500,000 with two sureties, and she is also required to surrender her passport.

Shaharudin said Hasanah is expected to post her bail by the end of the day.

Senior lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, who was also present in the court complex, said he was troubled by the charges against Hasanah.

“That is somebody else’s case, but from what I know, I’m a little disturbed that the decision to charge her is taken so easily because there are a lot of national secrets, in fact national security matters, that would have to be unloaded during her case.

“I don’t know whether it is a wise thing,” Shafee told reporters when asked to comment on the matter.

Shafee is not involved in Hasanah’s case but was present when she was charged, as he had earlier attended to the charges against his client, Najib Abdul Razak, in the same courtroom.

Apart from Shaharudin, Hasanah is also represented by the lawyer Mohd Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz. The prosecution is led by Gopal Sri Ram.

Shaharudin clarified to reporters that Hasanah’s charges are not related to 1MDB.

“Many people may be confused about this case. It has nothing to do with 1MDB, 1MDB's debt or 1MDB's subsidiaries,” he said.

He added that Hasanah is also not expected to face more charges.