Kota Kinabalu: The money-laundering trial of two former officials of the Sabah Water Department and one of their wives has been postponed to July 25-27 this year.
They are the department’s former Director Awang Mohd Tahir Awang Mohd Talib, 58, his wife Fauziah Piut, 55, and former Deputy Director Lim Lam Beng, 66.
On Dec 29, 2016, Mohd Tahir and Fauziah, along with Lim, had pleaded not guilty separately to 37 counts of money-laundering involving RM61.57 million.
The offence 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 unlawful activity or instrumentalities of an offence at the time the offence was committed or RM5 million ringgit, whichever is the higher, on conviction.
So far, the prosecution has called 25 witnesses in the hearing which started in 2018 before Sessions Court Judge Abu Bakar Manat.
Mohd Tahir, Fauziah and Lim are currently released on bail pending the disposal of their case.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Zander Lim Wai Keong, together with DPP Mahadi Abdul Jumaat from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) appeared for the prosecution, while Mohd Tahir and Fauziah were represented by counsel Marcel Jude and counsel Datuk Tan Hock Chuan and Karpaljit Singh.
