Court reduces bail on on Ex-Sabah Water Dept director to RM5m

KOTA KINABALU: The High Court here today reduced the bail on former Sabah Water Department director Ag Mohd Tahir Mohd Talib, who was charged with corruption and power abuse, from RM10 million to RM5 million.
Judge P. Ravinthran reduced the bail amount following an application by Ag Mohd Tahir's lawyer, PJ Periera.
In allowing the request, Ravinthran ordered Ag Mohd Tahir, 54, to pay deposit of RM2 million with two local sureties.
The judge also allowed the bail on Ag Mohd Tahir's wife, Fauziah Piut, 51, to be reduced from RM2 million to RM1 million and ordered her to pay deposit of RM500,000 with two sureties.
The couple was also ordered to report themselves at the office of the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) twice a month.On Dec 29 last year, Ag Mohd Tahir, his wife and a Sabah Finance Ministry technical and engineering advisor pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court to a total of 37 counts of money laundering involving cash and bank savings of RM61.48 million, as well as unlawful possession of luxury goods.
Ag Mohd Tahir pleaded not guilty to eight counts of possessing RM56.9 million in cash and in four bank accounts, two charges for unlawful possession of six luxury vehicles and one charge of unlawful possession of 86 branded wrist watches.
He also pleaded not guilty with his wife, Fauziah Piut, 51, to two counts of unlawful possession of jewellery, while Fauziah claimed trial to 19 counts of unlawful possession of jewellery and luxury bags as well as a total of RM2.2 million in various bank accounts.
The third accused, Sabah Finance Ministry technical and engineering advisor Lim Lam Peng, 62, who has been suspended from the post, was charged with unlawful possession of a vehicle and three counts of possessing a total of RM2.38 million in cash.
They were charged under Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001. — Bernama