Sabah Water Dept scandal: March 20 decision on revision applications

KOTA KINABALU: The High Court here will deliver its decision on March 20 on three applications for revisions filed by former Sabah State Water Department deputy director against the orders of dismissing his applications to recuse presiding judge to hear his trial, production of documents and to object a joint trial with other accused.

Justice Datuk Nurchaya Hj Arshad fixed the date yesterday in her chambers for February 27 to file the affidavit in reply and March 6 to file submissions if any.

Teo Chee Kong, 52, had on February 13 filed the three revisions through his counsel Roland Cheng, Ram Singh and Nelson W. Angang to have the decisions made by the Corruption Court here revised.

On January 30, the Corruption Court here had dismissed two applications by Teo to have the judge recused from hearing his case and Teo’s objection to be jointly tried with an ex-director of the same department, Ag Mohd Tahir Mohd Talib, and two others with his cases.

Ag Tahir and the two others are Fauziah Piut, 52, and another former deputy director before Teo, Lim Lam Beng @ Lim Chee Hong, 63, and they are facing separate money laundering charges.

Then on February 9, the same Corruption Court had also dismissed Teo’s application to get the documents and CCTV recordings from the prosecution during his investigation period as well as during his arrest until his release.

Teo was accused of possessing 70 pieces of land and cash allegedly obtained from illegal activities.

All his charges are framed under Sections 4 (1) (a) and 4 (1) (b), both of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 and Anti-Money Laundering, AntiTerrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

The first 78 charges alleged Teo of possessing the lands obtained from illegal activities through 78 transactions of transferring ownership worth RM12,705,203.70.

The other 68 counts accused Teo of possessing cash amounting to RM7,930,810.48 which were Malaysian Ringgit 5,952,050.00 and RM1,978,760.48 from foreign currency and also cash of RM12,287,240.07 at financial institutions.

Teo had allegedly committed the offences at separate locations at land district offices and bank branches here, Penampang and Beaufort between 2005 and 2016.

During his first arraignment in December, 2017, the court released Teo on a bail of RM1.5 million with RM500,000 deposited with two local sureties.

The court also ordered for Teo’s passport to be impounded and kept by the court, pending disposal of the cases and to report every Saturday to the Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) office between 8am and 8pm.

Deputy public prosecutor Tengku Amir Zaki Tengku Hj Abd Rahman acted for the respondent.