SINGAPORE — Prosecutors have objected to the release of alleged The Messiah hacker, James Raj Arokiasamy, on bail, but said yesterday they would no longer stop him from seeing his lawyer.

They said this to the court yesterday after pressing an additional drug-consumption charge — a fourth — against the 35-year-old, who is also facing a charge under the Computer Misuse and Cybersecurity Act for hacking into the Ang Mo Kio Town Council’s website on Nov 28.

James Raj has only spoken briefly to his lawyer M Ravi twice in court — due to objections from the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC), which cited the preliminary stage of investigations into his alleged cyber-attack — since he was arrested in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 4.

Yesterday, James Raj’s fourth drug-consumption charge alleged that he consumed cannabis before the Malaysian police arrested him that same day.

Noting that he posed “a clear flight risk” given that he had fled Singapore while out on bail for drug-related investigations in 2011, Deputy Public Prosecutor Wong Woon Kwong argued against letting James Raj out on bail.

“It ought to be highlighted that close to two-and-a-half years elapsed before the accused was arrested in Malaysia. In the intervening period, the accused had no ostensible difficulty living in Malaysia,” said Mr Wong.

“Were it not for the efforts of the Royal Malaysian Police, the accused would still be on the run and safely out of reach from the arm of the law.”

He added that, since James Raj does not appear to deny the drug charges, the AGC was prepared to take his plea on them in a week’s time. Investigations into his alleged hacking offence, however, are still ongoing.

Mr Ravi also clarified to the court yesterday about his client’s earlier allegations of assault by the Malaysian police. He said a Central Narcotics Bureau officer and the Technology Crimes Forensic Branch from Singapore were present during the purported assault, but stood by and did nothing. James Raj will return to court today, when his lawyer will argue for him to be released on bail.