Missing Jamal contacts lawyers, says will cooperate with police




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KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 (Bernama) -- Sungai Besar UMNO division chief Datuk Jamal Md Yunus, who reportedly disappeared from Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital here a few hours after he was charged there on Friday, contacted his legal team today.

The prosecution proceeding for Jamal, 48, charged with causing public nuisance when he led a protest by smashing beer bottles using a hammer in front of the Selangor State Secretary Building in Shah Alam last year, was conducted at the Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital as he was being treated at the hospital for back pain.

His lawyer Datuk Mohd Imran Tamrin said Jamal's 'disappearance' from the Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital was a misunderstanding because at that point he thought that his bail process had been finalised and completed.

"He has explained that he left the hospital in a hurry in the afternoon after the discharge process to pursue other affairs within office hours," Mohd Imran said in a statement here today.

He said Jamal was ready to cooperate with the police once he recovers from the back pain, for which he was warded.

He said Jamal would appear in court to complete the bail process.

"We, his team of lawyers, believe that there was a misunderstanding until his situation was exploited with negative perceptions. He did not run away and has been following the case and was prepared to provide the necessary assistance," said Mohd Imran.

Jamal's disappearance was realised by the Shah Alam Court Assistant Registrar who was handling his bail process at about 5.30pm.

Meanwhile, Jamal via a voice recording which he sent through a WhatsApp application said he did not disappear but on the contrary there was a misunderstanding as he thought the bail process had been completed.

He said he had rushed out of the hospital as he had to withdraw money from the Tabung Haji to pay for the cost of remand and so on.

However, after withdrawing the money, he received a call that the police were looking for him for allegedly escaping from the hospital.

Meanwhile, Selangor CID Chief, SAC Fadzil Ahmat when contacted said Jamal should immediately turn up to complete the process of his bail.

"Jamal had not completed the documentation process for his bail. He has to turn up immediately to complete the process, " he added.

-- BERNAMA