‘Sabah Watergate’ trial to continue in April

KOTA KINABALU: The trial of the former state water department director and two others linked to the ‘Sabah Watergate’ scandal is expected to continue at the Sessions Court here in April.

Lawyers for former director Mohd Tahir Mohd Talib, his wife Fauziah Ag Puit and former state Finance Ministry technical and engineering adviser Lim Lam Beng said the case would continue as scheduled.

Lawyer Marcel Jude, who represents Mohd Tahir and Fauziah, however, declined to comment on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) prosecutors’ move to drop 146 money-laundering charges involving RM32.93mil against former state water department deputy director Teo Chee Kong, who was given a discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) by the Sessions Court on Friday.

Teo, however, was slapped with a fine of RM30mil provided under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti Terrorism Financing Act.

Jude said the trial of his clients should go on without any further delays.

“Yes, we are ready for the trial, this case is entering the seventh year since their arrest (Oct 2016)... it is prejudicial to my clients Mohd Tahir and Fauziah to be put through such a long wait which is an unjustified punishment.

“All their monies and properties have been seized and they have problems meeting living expenses, loan repayments and the like,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Jude said the Sessions Court had set the dates April 11-14, April 25-27, May 17-19 and June 13-16 as trial dates for the case.

Lim, who was also a former Sabah water department director, is represented by lawyer Zahir Shah.

Mohd Tahir was charged with 12 counts under Section 4 (1) (a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti Terrorism Financing Act and Section 4 (1) (b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLATFPUAA). The case involved some RM60mil in cash and bank accounts.

Fauziah and Lim were each charged with 19 counts involving RM2.2mil and four counts involving RM2.38mil under Section 4 (1) (b) AMLATFPUAA.

They face a maximum of 15 years in jail and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the proceeds from illegal activities or equipment, or RM5mil, whichever is higher, if convicted.

Sabah Law Society president Roger Chin on Sunday urged the Attorney General’s Chamber to explain why the case against Teo was dropped as it was a high profile case and was of great public interest.