Kuala Lampur, July 22 -- In the Supreme Court case PP v Dato' Mat Safuan [1991], the accused was charged under Section 409 of the Penal Code, a non-bailable offence. The case presented an occasion for the apex court to explain the law on bail.

Justice Wan Yahya, who delivered the judgment of the apex court, said as follows:

"The law relating to bail is set out in Chapter XXXV of the Criminal Procedure Code. Section 387 sets out the right of an accused or arrested person to bail in bailable offence. Section 388 provides for the circumstances where a police officer or the Court may exercise its discretion to release on bail any person accused of a non bailable offence.

"Both sections do not have any specific provision for the imposition ...