More than three-quarters of S$100,000 bail forfeited
By Shaffiq Alkhatib | Posted: 09 September 2011 1513 hrs
Singaporean fugitive Irfan Ahmed Khan (centre) appeared in court on 25 June 2011, after jumping bail and escaping to Malaysia on his wedding solemnisation day. He was nabbed in Johor on 23 June after 17 days on the run. Irfan faces 11 charges, including trafficking about 190.1g of Ice. He was granted a one-day conditional bail to register his marriage to his pregnant fiancee on 7 June, but skipped town. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW
SINGAPORE: A man who posted a S$100,000 bail for his younger brother so he could marry his pregnant girlfriend will lose S$85,000 of the money as his brother had absconded.
Marketing manager, Mr Maqbool Ahmed Khan, 32, had posted the money for Irfan Ahmed Khan Iqbal Ahmed Khan, 28, and even lent him his car to get married.
But Irfan, who faces mainly drug-related charges, escaped in June before Malaysian authorities caught him in Johor about two weeks later.
On Friday, district Judge John Ng not only ordered the forfeiture of S$85,000 of the total bail amount, he also chided Mr Maqbool for not ensuring Irfan did not abscond.
Judge Ng pointed out that Mr Maqbool had loaned his car to Irfan without hesitation when his younger brother wanted to use it.
Because of this, the judge added that instead of ensuring that Irfan's movements were within his supervision, Mr Maqbool had unwittingly given him the opportunity to abscond.
Judge Ng also said Mr Maqbool had failed to "exercise due diligence in the discharge of his duties as a bailor".
However, the judge took into account that Irfan was re-arrested within 17 days after he ran away, saying this was the only positive aspect of the case for Mr Maqbool's situation.
But Judge Ng also noted that Mr Maqbool was not involved in his sibling's re-capture.
The judge added that a larger sum would have been returned to Mr Maqbool had he contributed to his brother's re-capture.
Mr Maqbool later told reporters outside the courtroom that he was satisfied with the outcome.
Irfan is now back in remand and his case is still pending.
His pre-trial conference will be held on Monday.
- CNA/cc
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