Railway Deputy Director, wives charged

KOTA KINABALU: The Deputy Director of the Sabah Railway Department and his two wives pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here Monday to bribery and money laundering charges involving a total of RM1,946,592.03.

Ismail Ahmad, 58, his first wife Muhilim @ Masniah Buaya @ Buayie, 58, and second wife Runtiah Rais, 42, were charged with 23 counts of graft.

Ismail, who is also Civil Engineering Head, was charged with eight counts of having RM1,144,998.75, three counts with Muhilim for having RM204,052.01 and another two counts with Runtiah for having RM49.097.73.

Muhilim, a senior officer of Yayasan Sabah, was also charged with three counts of having RM83,653.29, while Runtiah, a general assistant in the State Railway Department, was also charged with another seven counts of having RM464,790.25.

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They allegedly committed the offences at several banks here and in Putatan, Pos Malaysia in Putatan and Lembaga Tabung Haji here between Jan 23, 2018 and April 18, this year.

The charges are framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Mahadi Jumaat proposed bail at RM150,000 for Ismail on the grounds that the charges involved huge sums of money.

Mahadi applied for RM80,000 bail each for Muhilim and Runtiah on similar grounds, saying both accused would be charged in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court next week for similar offence.

Counsel Watti Junius, representing all three, applied for a lower bail amount on the grounds that all accused are locals and are still working in the public sector.

He said Ismail and Runtiah work in the State Railway Department, while Muhilim is a senior officer in Yayasan Sabah. Judge Abu Bakar Abdul Manat Abu Bakar set June 19 for pre-trial case management.

He offered Ismail bail at RM100,000 with RM50,000 to be paid by Monday for his release and that the balance of RM50,000 be paid before or on April 29.

Muhilim and Runtiah were offered bail at RM50,000 each with RM20,000 to be paid by Monday for their release and that the balance of RM30,000 to be paid before or on April 29.

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Abu Bakar held that a warrant of arrest would be issued should they fail to furnish the remaining of their respective bail amounts.

He also granted the prosecution’s application for the accused to report to the MACC once a month, their passports to be impounded by the court and not to contact with any prosecution witnesses throughout the trial.

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