Kota Kinabalu: The Sessions Court has set 21 days next year to hear the corruption trial involving two former officials of the Sabah Water Department and one of their wives, who were charged with money laundering.
Sessions Court Judge Abu Bakar Manat on Friday fixed Jan 11-13, Feb 1-3, Feb 22-24, March 7-10, March 28-31 and April 11-14, 2023 for the continuation of the trial of former State Water Department Director Ag Mohd Tahir Ag Ag Mohd Talib and his wife Fauziah Piut and former State Water Department Deputy Director Lim Lam Beng.
Earlier, Abu Bakar, during case management of the case via zoom, informed the parties that the mention on Friday was to choose the dates of the hearing on the concern from the Chief Justice of Sabah and Sarawak (CJSS) taking into account that he has already been ordered to transfer to the Muar High Court, Johor, effectively Jan 2, 2023.
“However, I have received instructions from the CJSS to continue this case until its completion, said Abu Bakar.
He said that Friday’s mention was to get information from the prosecution on the actual number of witnesses to be called before closing its case so that they could estimate the time or dates that are suitable for the trial and also to fix trial dates for all parties in order to expedite a speedy trial and smooth proceeding
“Hopefully we can manage to close for the prosecution before the end of February or sometime in early March, he said.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Mahadi Abdul Jumaat informed the court that the prosecution has so far called around 35 to 36 witnesses and that they have 15 new witnesses of which seven are ‘short witnesses’ and eight ‘long witnesses’.
He said the prosecution would also take time for exhibit identification at the vault of the Bank Negara, here, and that they would also propose a crime scene visit to several locations which would be determined.
Towards this end, DPP Mahadi proposed at least another 15 to 20 days of hearing days.
Ag Mohd Tahir, 58, Fauziah, 55, were jointly tried with Lim Lam Beng, 66, on 37 counts of money laundering charges, involving cash and bank savings amounting to RM61.57million, as well as unlawful possession of luxury goods.
They had on Dec 29, 2016 pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Counsel Marcel Jude represented Ag Mohd Tahir and Fauziah while Lim was represented by counsel Datuk Tan Hock Chuan Baldev Singh and Karpaljit Singh.
