The Court of Appeal has dismissed the prosecution’s bid to have former Batu Kawan Umno vice-chief Khairuddin Abu Hassan and his lawyer Matthias Chang tried under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma).

In their unanimous decision today, the three-member panel headed by Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat said there is no merit in the prosecution’s appeal and upheld the decision made by the High Court in Kuala Lumpur last year.

The decision means that - unless it is overturned by the Federal Court - Khairuddin and Chang would be tried under the Criminal Procedure Code and the Evidence Act 1950, and not under Sosma.