Court to hear objection to Teo’s appeal July 23

KOTA KINABALU: The Court of Appeal will on July 23 hear the preliminary objection raised by the prosecution against the appeal by former Sabah Water Department deputy director Teo Chee Kong (pic) on issues relating to his money laundering charges.

Justices Dato’ Abdul Rahman Sebli, Dato’ Mary Lim Thiam Suan and Datuk Hasnah Dato’ Mohammed Hashim on Monday unanimously granted Teo’s adjournment application made by his counsel.

Teo’s led counsel Roland Cheng told the court that they have just being notified of the preliminary objection on March 15 and served the written submission on Monday morning.

Cheng said it requires an extensive research.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Electrifying windows of opportunity in Sabah - The right policies, collaborations, and strategies can turn emerging opportunities into victories for all parties in Sabah.

CHIEF Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor’s 2021 Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya Plan and the Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (SEDIA) have laid out a road map to an exciting future for all Sabahans, with a target of increasing Sabah’s income levels and GDP per capita from about RM 23,000 to about RM 40,000 by 2030.

He added that they also wanted to perfect their appeal with the amended petition of appeal.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Tengku Amir Zaki Tengku Hj Abd Rahman confirmed that they filed the application last Friday to the court via email.

Teo is appealing against the High Court’s decision made on March 21, 2018, in dismissing his three revisions relating to his 146 counts of money laundering charges from illegal activities amounting to RM32.9 million at the Special Corruption Court

His three revision applications were to quash his 146 charges; against the joint trial order by the Sessions Court; and to recuse the presiding judge from hearing his trial.

Teo had on Dec 13, 2017 pleaded not guilty to all the charges in which 78 charges stated that Teo allegedly have 70 land titles from illegal activities through 78 transactions valued at RM12,705,203.70 after transfer of ownership.

He allegedly committed the offence between Oct 21, 2005 and Aug 19, 2014 at separate locations in Land Office in Beaufort, Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Sipitang, Papar and Land and Survey Department here.

The charges under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 provides for a fine of up to RM5 million or a jail term of up to 5 years or both, upon conviction.

The remaining 68 charges against Teo stated that he allegedly committed six offences of having cash totalling RM7,930,810.48 (RM5,952,050 in Ringgit Malaysia and RM1,978,760.48 in estimated foreign currencies) from illegal activities and 62 offences of having money in a bank account totalling RM12,287,240.07 from illegal activities in eight financial institutions here and in Kuala Lumpur.

The offence allegedly took place between Oct 4, 2016 and Dec 30, 2016.

Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.

Daily Express Malaysia

Each charges framed under Section 4 (1) (b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 carries a jail term of up to 15 years and liability of a fine of not less than five times the sum or value of the proceeds of an unlawful activity or instrumentalities of an offence at the time the offence was committed or five million ringgit, whichever is the higher, upon conviction.

Together with Cheng on Monday were counsel Nelson Angang and Kimberly Ye, who stood in for Ram Singh.

Try 1 month for RM 18.00

Try 1 month for RM 18.00

Try 1 month for RM 18.00