KOTA KINABALU: Former Sabah Water Department director Ag Tahir Ag Talib, who was charged with money laundering involving RM51.7mil between 2005 and 2016 will know whether he will have to enter his defence on Sept 18.
Sessions Court Judge Abu Bakar Manat also fixed the same date to deliver his ruling on whether Tahir’s wife Fauziah Piut and the department’s former deputy director, Lim Lam Beng, will also be required to enter their defence.
He said this after Deputy Public Prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat told the court on Thursday (May 16) that the prosecution was closing its case after calling 46 witnesses.
He said the prosecution would be offering 38 witnesses to the accused if the court finds that a prima facie case has been established.
Judge Abu Bakar also fixed Sept 3 to hear oral submissions by all parties.
The trial, which commenced on May 7, 2018, experienced delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic and numerous interlocutory applications filed by the accused.
On Wednesday (May 15), investigating officer Abdullah Sani A. Latib revealed that the alleged bribes amounting to RM51.7mil were part of a state budget allocation of RM2.1bil during the same period.
Fauziah and Lim were jointly tried for alleged money laundering offences involving cash and bank savings, and for being unlawfully in possession of various luxurious items.
Tahir faces 11 charges and his wife 19 charges under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
The couple are also jointly facing two charges under Section 4(1)(b) of Amla, while Tahir faces one other charge under Section 4(1)(a).
The alleged offences were said to have been committed by the couple between Oct 13 and Nov 8, 2016, at an office here, a house in Sembulan, several bank branches, a condominium in Sulaman, all in Sabah, and Kuala Lumpur.
Lim, who faces four charges under Section 4(1)(b) of the Act, was alleged to have been in possession of cash amounting to RM2.38mil at MACC’s Jalan UMS office and at a house here between Oct 13 and Nov 8, 2016.
Both Tahir and Fauziah were represented by counsel Priskila Akwila Sinem and Fareez Salleh, while counsel Tan Hock Chuan, Baldev Singh, Karpaljit Singh and Kelvin Wong acted for Lim.
The prosecution was also represented by Deputy Public Prosecutor Haresh Prakash Somiah and Zander Lim.
Court bail has been extended to all accused.
