Sessions Court postpones decision in ex-Johor exco man Latif Bandi's corruption trial

Former Johor housing and local government exco member Datuk Abd Latif Bandi (right) speaking to his lawyers at the Johor Baru Sessions Court on Sunday (June 26).

JOHOR BARU: The Sessions Court here has postponed its decision on former Johor executive council member Datuk Abd Latif Bandi, his son and a property consultant’s case involving corruption and money laundering totaling RM35.7mil to August.

The decision was initially slated for Sunday (June 26) but during the court proceedings, Sessions Court Judge Kamarudin Kamsun said he wanted to go through several more arguments first.

ALSO READ: High Court orders ex-Johor exco man Latif Bandi, two others to enter defence over corruption, money laundering charges

“There are still several arguments that have yet to be heard and I need to go through them first before I can make a decision.

“Therefore there will not be a decision today,” he said in the court here on Sunday (June 26).

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Following that, lawyers representing Abd Latif, 56; his son Ahmad Fauzan Hatim, 30; and Amir Shariffuddin Abd Raub, 49; as well as the deputy public prosecutors gave their respective statements regarding the case for about two hours.

Kamarudin then set Aug 7 for the decision of the case.

ALSO READ: High Court sets Nov 7 for appeal decision in former Johor exco man's alleged corruption case

Abd Latif, who was former state housing and local government committee chairman, and the other two other men were first charged with 33 counts of corruption and four counts of money laundering on June 14, 2017, following a land scandal that broke out in Johor about three months prior.

ALSO READ: MACC forfeits money, assets from former Johor exco member

Kamarudin acquitted them on April 21, 2019, after the prosecution failed to prove a prima facie case.

However on Nov 7, 2021, the Johor Baru High Court ordered the three accused to enter their defence on the 37 counts of corruption and money laundering charges after finding the Sessions Court had erred in its decision to free and acquit them.

The three were charged under Section 28(1)(C) of the MACC Act 2009, and Section 32(8)(c) and Section 89 of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.