MUSA GETS 2 MONTHS TO TRANSFER CASE
Sessions Court gives defence team time to get all related documents
THE Sessions Court here has given the defence team of former Sabah chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman two months on whether they want to transfer his graft case to the High Court.
Judge Rozina Ayob made the order after being informed by lawyer Francis Ng Aik Guan, who is representing Musa, that the team had yet to decide on the matter.
Ng told the court that the defence team had not received all related documents for the case.
“After we receive the documents, we will decide whether to transfer the case (to the High Court).
“We would like for a case management date to be set so we could inform the court on the development of this case,” he said.
Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Raja Rozela Raja Toran told the court that several documents had been handed over to the defence.
However, the prosecution team needed more time to compile the documents. The court set Feb 20 for the defence to inform the court of their decision.
Musa was also represented by lawyers Amer Hamzah Arshad and Ridha Abdah Subri.
On Nov 5, Musa was charged at the Sessions Court with 35 counts of receiving bribes amounting to US$63,293,924 (RM265 million) in connection with timber concessions contracts in Sabah.
According to the charge sheets, Musa allegedly accepted the money as inducements to give timber concession contracts to 16 companies.
The companies were Bountiful Returns Sdn Bhd, Syarikat Segar Tepat Sdn Bhd, JV Lestari Sdn Bhd, Tamabina Sdn Bhd, Sabapioneer Sdn Bhd, Danagaya Sdn Bhd, LR Enterprise Sdn Bhd, Lembah Mayang Sdn Bhd, Fast Progress Sdn Bhd, Maju Sinar Network Sdn Bhd, Eden Region Sdn Bhd, Gasing Selatan Sdn Bhd, Innokita Sdn Bhd, Tetap Simfoni Sdn Bhd, Asiatic Lumber Industries Sdn Bhd and Eramewa Sdn Bhd.
The charges were filed under Section 11 (a) of the Anti-Corruption Act 1997, which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and fine not less than five times the amount of bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if convicted.