The Sessions Court imposed bail of a record RM12 million on former Sabah Water Department director Ag Mohd Tahir Ag Mohd Talib and his wife Fauziah Piut. They were unable to pay the amount.
The director, his wife, and his assistant director all claimed trial in the biggest graft case in the country – involving RM61.4 million.
A total of 12 charges were levelled against Tahir, 54, involving RM56.9 million while Fauziah, 51, faced 18 similar charges involving cash and properties totalling RM2.2 million.
Tahir’s former deputy Lim Lam Beng, 64, faced four charges involving property and cash totalling RM2.3 million, according to a report in The Star.
Counsel for Tahir and his wife, P J Pareira, was quoted by The Star as saying they would file an appeal at the Kota Kinabalu High Court against the bail set by the Special Corruption Court.
“They are unable to raise bail. I cannot recall such a high amount being imposed before,” he was quoted as saying.
The bail for Tahir was set at RM10 million and for his wife at RM2 million.
Lim, however, paid his bail amount of RM1 million.
Sessions Court judge Ummu Kalthom Abdul Samad, who presided, ordered them to surrender their passports to the court.
Tahir was hit with eight charges of being in possession of RM56.9 million in cash and in four bank accounts, two charges of owning six luxury vehicles and a charge of owning 86 types of branded watches.
He also faces another charge of being directly involved in handing over RM14,000 to an individual, Cristine Fiona M Ponsoi, The Star reported.
The charges were framed under Section 4(1) (b) and Section 4(1) (a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
Fauziah faces 18 charges for being in possession of more than RM2.2 million in 18 bank accounts. She was also accused of owning 93 branded handbags, bought from the proceeds of illegal activities.
The couple was also jointly charged with owning 575 pieces of gold jewellery and another charge of being in possession of 376 other types of jewellery acquired through illegal means.
Lim was charged with being in possession of more than RM2.38 million allegedly accrued from illegal activities.
In asking the court to impose a RM10 million bail on Tahir, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Deputy Public Prosecutor Husmamuddin Hussin said the property seizures in the case were the largest ever by any enforcement agency in the country, and that the case related to water, an important resource for people.