Iranian Businessman Wanted By US Fails In His Habeas Corpus Application

KUALA LUMPUR, June 9 (Bernama) -- An Iranian businessman wanted by the United States (US) for allegedly smuggling military antennas to Hong Kong and Singapore failed in his attempt to be freed from the custody of the Malaysian authority after a High Court dismissed his habeas corpus application.

Amin Ravan, in his early 30's, was arrested here (Kuala Lumpur) in October 2012 and on Nov 25 last year, the Sessions Court granted an application by the Home Ministry to detain and extradite him to the United States.

When handing down the decision, Justice Datuk Mohd Azman Husin said dual-criminality applied in the case where the ministry had fulfilled all the requirements under Section 13(1)(b) of the Extradition Act 1992.

Dual criminality is a crime punished in both countries where a suspect is being held and a country asking for the suspect to be handed over or transferred to stand trial, and an extradition is allowed only for offences alleged as crimes in both jurisdictions.

Mohd Azman stressed that the Sessions Court was correct in granting the order.

"He had played some role on the offences allegedly committed by him and he can appeal against this decision to the Federal Court," ruled Mohd Azman before allowing senior federal counsel Kamal Bahrin Omar's request to detain the Iranian at the Sungai Buloh Prison.

Met by reporters later, Kamal Bahrin said Amin Ravan had 30 days to file his appeal.

During today's proceeding, two officials from the United States were present in court and they were briefed by Kamal Bahrin on the court's decision.

The Iranian was represented by lawyers Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah and Tania Scvetti.