PETALING JAYA: A minor and a 20-year-old woman previously detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) have been released on bail while they await trial on charges of being members of an organised crime group.
The Johor Bahru High Court allowed Kuek Pei Lin, 20, and the 17-year-old teenage boy to post bail at RM20,000 each, Berita Harian reported.
Justice Atan Mustaffa Yusoff Ahmad noted that minors and women were among those who may be exempted from Sosma’s provisions on detention without trial.
The judge ordered them to report to the police every month and surrender their passports to the court until their case is settled.
The two are among six people who were charged on Feb 12 with being members of an organised crime group named the “Vincent” gang.
They were charged in the Johor Bahru sessions and magistrates’ courts with committing the offence at Taman Lagenda Putra, Kulai between March 2025 and Jan 15 this year.
The offence under Section 130V(1) of the Penal Code is punishable by between five and 20 years in prison, if convicted.
All six accused were previously denied bail.
Section 13(1) of Sosma states that bail shall not be granted to one charged with a security offence. However, minors, women and sick people may be released on bail.
Earlier this week, Suhakam’s children’s commissioners urged the police to grant them immediate access to minors detained under Sosma, reiterating that the Child Act requires a child who is arrested to be brought before a Court for Children within 24 hours.
