The 54-year-old former director, Ag Mohd Tahir Mohd Talib, pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here to 12 counts of misappropriating infrastructure funds amounting to RM56.9 million and unlawfully possessing various branded wrist watches and vehicles.

He also pleaded not guilty with his wife, Fauziah Piut, 51, to two counts of unlawfully possessing jewellery, while Fauziah was charged with 19 more offences of unlawfully possessing jewellery and luxury bags as well as a total of RM2.2 million in various bank accounts.

Technical and engineering adviser Lim Lam Peng, 62, currently suspended from his post, claimed trial to three counts of possessing a total of RM2.38 million in cash and unlawfully possessing a vehicle.

Judge Ummu Kalthum Abdul Samad allowed Ag Mohd Tahir, Fauziah and Lim bail of RM10 million, RM2 million and RM1 million with two local sureties, respectively.

They were also ordered to surrender their travel documents to the court.

Earlier, lawyers Hairul Vaiyron Othman, representing Ag Mohd Tahir and Fauziah, and Chin Teck Ming, who represented Lim, objected to the amount requested by the prosecution as their clients had yet to be proven guilty.

Hairul also told the court that his clients had three children, including one studying abroad and financially dependent on their parents.

Ummu Kalthum set Feb 28 next year for case management.

The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutors from MACC comprising Husmaruddin Hussin, Farez Rahman, Anas Mahathir, Rozanna Abd Hadi and Rustam Sanip.

Ag Mohd Tahir and Fauziah were represented by a panel of three lawyers, comprising PJ Perira, Hairul Vaiyron and Ariel C Dasan.

Ag Mohd Tahir was arrested by MACC  on Oct 4 and released on RM500,000 bail after being remanded for two weeks, while Lim was arrested on Oct 13.