Former BSI Bank wealth planner Yeo Jiawei was granted bail of S$600,000 yesterday but continued to be held in remand after the prosecution blocked his release by applying with the High Court to review the decision.

The move by the prosecutors, who have opposed bail for Yeo, citing the defendant’s proclivities for tampering with witnesses involved in his case, sparked a retort by defence lawyer Harry Elias, who said he would be constrained in representing his client for his trial for the charges of obstruction of justice starting in two weeks’ time.

When Yeo, 33, could be freed from custody is unclear, because a hearing date has not been set for the prosecution’s application to the High Court.

Apart from two charges of obstructing justice, Yeo faces another seven charges for cheating, forgery and receiving ill-gotten gains, amid global investigations into Malaysian state investment fund 1MDB. On Tuesday, the Monetary Authority of Singapore ordered BSI Bank to shut down operations here, citing serious breaches of anti-money-laundering rules.

In deciding to grant Yeo bail, district judge Christopher Goh noted that the prosecution had been given sufficient time for investigations. The judge added that while Yeo’s cheating charges were “not inconsequential”, he was not convinced that these alleged offences were serious enough for bail to be denied.

“The court has to ensure that a proper balance is to be struck in order to balance the interest of the accused and that of society (in granting bail). Deprivation of a person’s liberty prior to his determination of guilt should never be taken lightly,” said DJ Goh, adding that this balance fell “marginally” on the side of Yeo.

To determine the bail amount, a court would consider factors such as the nature and gravity of the alleged offences and the degree of punishment warranted.

After Yeo was granted bail, however, Second Solicitor-General Kwek Mean Luck argued for a stay of the bail order, saying the prosecution was filing a criminal revision on the matter in the High Court.

But referring to Yeo’s trial for the obstruction of justice charges starting in two weeks’ time, Mr Elias said he could not prepare for the trial without “free, independent” access to his client. “How do I do it without seeing a single witness or taking a single statement? Give me an atmosphere where I can work with the defendant properly,” he said.

Acceding to the prosecution’s application to keep Yeo in remand was akin to telling him to “go to jail even though (he’s) innocent”, charged Mr Elias.

But Mr Kwek rebutted the argument, pointing out that Mr Elias had seen his client for over an hour yesterday morning.

He also stressed that Yeo had contacted no fewer than five witnesses related to the case between February and April this year, and was likely to continue intervening with witnesses if he was released on bail.

“Given the extensiveness, intensity and deceptiveness with which he went about interfering with the administration of justice, there is an immediate and palpable risk to the public interest if he is released from custody,” said Mr Kwek.

Yeo’s case will be mentioned in court again on June 1.

Source:
courtesy of TODAY

by Koh Swee Fang Valerie

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