Kota Kinabalu: Former Sabah Water Department director Ag Mohd Tahir Mohd Talib and two others will know on May 19 whether they will be found guilty or acquitted of multiple money-laundering charges.
Sessions Court Judge Abu Bakar Manat fixed May 19 for the decision involving Ag Mohd Tahir Mohd Talib, his wife Fauziah Piut, and former State Water Department deputy director Lim Lam Beng.
Advertisement
The court earlier heard clarification submissions at the end of the defence case, with Lim’s submissions heard on Wednesday and those of Ag Mohd Tahir and Fauziah on Tuesday.
Ag Mohd Tahir, 63, and Fauziah, 61, face 33 counts of money laundering involving cash and bank savings amounting to RM61.57 million, as well as unlawful possession of luxury goods.
Ag Mohd Tahir, as the first accused, faces 11 charges under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 and one charge under Section 4(1)(a) of the same Act.
Fauziah, as the second accused, faces 19 charges under Section 4(1)(b) of the same Act.
Both also face two joint charges under Section 4(1)(b).
The offences were allegedly committed at various locations, including an office in Kota Kinabalu, a house in Sembulan and several bank branches, between Oct 4 and Nov 4, 2016.
Lim, 72, faces four charges under Section 4(1)(b) of the same Act for allegedly possessing a Toyota Land Cruiser, RM200,000, RM1.9 million and RM280,000 believed to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
The offences were allegedly committed on Oct 13, Oct 22, Nov 7 and Nov 8, 2016.
Ag Mohd Tahir, Fauziah and Lim were first charged on Dec 29, 2016 and claimed trial.
The trial began on May 7, 2018 but was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and several interlocutory applications.
The prosecution closed its case on May 16, 2024 after calling 46 witnesses.
On Dec 4, 2024, the trio were ordered to enter their defence.
Ag Mohd Tahir began his defence on April 30, 2025, while Fauziah gave an unsworn statement on Sept 26, 2025. Lim gave his defence on Oct 22, 2025.
Ag Mohd Tahir also called 12 defence witnesses, including former Chief Minister Tan Sri Pairin Kitingan, former Infrastructure Development Minister Datuk Raymond Tan, former permanent secretaries Datuk Michael Emban and Datuk Pg Hassanel Pg Mohd Tahir, as well as two of his brothers.
Ag Mohd Tahir and Fauziah were represented by counsel Datuk Ansari Abdullah, Sharatha Masyaroh John Ridwan Lincon, Fadzidahtul Ardianah, Rasrina Patrick T. Rining and Noorsyazwani Sapri, while Lim Lam Beng was represented by counsel Datuk Tan Hock Chuan, Baldev Singh and Kelvin Wong.
Deputy Public Prosecutors Mahadi Abdul Jumaat and Haresh Prakash Somiah appeared for the prosecution.
.jpg)
