Kuala lumpur: The Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) has accepted representations filed by three of the 14 individuals charged with abducting a Palestinian man in an attempt to obtain information related to mobile phone hacking software.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Badius Zaman Ahmad informed High Court Judge K. Muniandy that the three accused, Edy Ko’im Said, 42, Muhammad Al Hatim Mohd Fauzi, 25, and Mohd Azwan Jamaludin, 39, had submitted their representations to the AGC last month. The case was initially scheduled for trial, but following these developments, the AGC has decided to offer alternative charges under Section 365 of the Penal Code to the three accused. It was also noted that several other accused have submitted representations.

Judge Muniandy set July 10 for the alternative charges to be read to the three individuals, and vacated the previously scheduled trial dates. During the proceedings, Edy Ko’im was represented by counsel Lingswaran Singh, Muhammad Al Hatim by Adi Zulkarnain Zulkafli, and Mohd Azwan by Norma Goh Kim Lian.

The other 11 accused have also been jointly charged in connection with the abduction of a 31-year-old Palestinian man, allegedly to extract confidential information on mobile phone hacking software. The accused include Mohamad Norakmal Hassan, 43; Dody Junaidi, 44; Tengku Arif Bongsu Tengku Hamid, 41; and several others. They were charged under Section 3 of the Kidnapping Act 1961, which carries a sentence of 30 to 40 years imprisonment and caning upon conviction.

Additionally, Tengku Arif Bongsu, along with married couple Nidarahayu Zainal and Raibafie Amdan, are facing 19 money laundering charges involving over RM250,000. These charges fall under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, which could result in up to 15 years’ imprisonment and a substantial fine upon conviction.