This comes after High Court Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah’s decision to allow the prosecution’s application to transfer the case from the Sessions Court. The defence did not object to the application.

The case management date in the High Court will be fixed later, and the case will be mentioned at the Sessions Court on March 21 to inform the court on the latest developments.

Deputy public prosecutor Muhd Ilmami Ahmad appeared for the prosecution, while Hasanah was represented by lawyer Shaharudin Ali.

On Oct 25, 2018, Hasanah pleaded not guilty to committing a breach of trust amounting to RM50.4 million (US$12.1 million) involving government funds. At the time the crime was committed, she was the director-general of the research division of the prime minister’s department.

Hasanah was alleged to have committed the offence between April 30 and May 9 last year at her office in Putrajaya.

She is charged under Section 409 of the Penal Code which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years, whipping and fine upon conviction.