Trial of former Water Dept director, wife deferred

KOTA KINABALU: The trial of former Water Department director and his wife along with another person who were charged with 37 counts of money laundering was deferred to August 8-11 and 22-25 this year.

The Sessions Court made the decision on the case involving Ag Mohd Tahir Mohd Talib, 55, Fauziah Ag Piut, 52, and Lim Lam Beng @ Lim Chee Hong, 63, who were charged under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities (AMLATFAPUA) Act 2001.

Ag Mohd Tahir and his wife, and Lim had pleaded not guilty on December 29, 2016 to the charges involving cash and bank savings of RM61.48 million as well as unlawful possession of luxury goods.

Ag Mohd Tahir faces 11 charges under Section 4 (1)(b) of the AMLATFAPUA Act 2001 while Fauziah and Lim were each charged with 19 and four counts respectively under the same Act.

The former Water Department director was also charged under Section 4(1)(a) of the Act plus two joint charges with his wife under Section 4 (1)(b) of the same Act.

The alleged offences by Ag Mohd Tahir and his wife were committed at the former Water Department director’s office here, Townhouse Graceville in Sembulan, OCBC, UOB, Bank Islam, CIMB, Bank Rakyat here, Puncak Luyang Condo here, Kingfisher Sulaman and PNB Tower in Kuala Lumpur between October 4 and November 4, 2016.

Lim was alleged to have committed the offences at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office in Jalan UMS and a house in Jalan Penempatan here between October 13 and November 8, 2016.

Ag Mohd Tahir managed to furnish his bail of RM2 million deposit after the High Court justice Datuk Nurchaya Hj Arshad allowed his application to vary the bail deposit at the High Court.

All of the accused are currently released on bail.

Ag Mohd Tahir and his wife were released on bail of RM5 million and RM1 million with deposits of RM2 million and RM500,000, respectively while Lim was released on RM1 million bail.

Counsel PJ Perira represented Ag Mohd Tahir and Fauziah while Lim was represented by counsel Baldev Singh and Karpaljit Singh.