KOTA KINABALU: Former Sabah Water Department director and his wife are expected to make a plea to reduce their RM12 million combined bail set by the Sessions Court here after they were charged with money laundering last month.
Awang Mohd Tahir Mohd Talib, 54, and Fauziah Piut, 51, will be brought before Judge Ravinthran Paramaguru at the Kota Kinabalu High Court at 2.30pm today.
Earlier, the couple's counsel, J.P. Pereira, and deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Anas Mahadzir, agreed to proceed with the appeal process without the appellants present.
The couple, who are currently being held at the Kota Kinabalu Central Lockup in Kepayan here, had failed to turn up at the court due to an administrative mixed up.
Ravinthran, however, insisted the appellants present themselves at the court, as it is a criminal hearing.
"We give the accused the opportunity to be present and I adjourn this court to 2.30pm," he said.
In explaining the absence of the appellants, Mohamad Anas said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is under the impression that it needs a hard copy of the OTP (order to produce) – which he said has been done online – to bring the accused to court.
On Dec 29, Awang and Fauziah were ordered to pay RM10 million and RM2 million each, with two local sureties, after they pleaded not guilty to 31 money laundering charges involving RM59.1 million.
The couple also claimed trial to two counts of possessing 575 pieces of jewellery and 346 other valuable items, acquired through illegal means.
The combined bail amount is said to be one of the highest in Malaysian court history.
The couple failed to raise the RM12 million bail and have since been held at the Kota Kinabalu Central Lockup in Kepayan here.
Pereira said it was impossible for his clients to raise such an excessive bail amount and hopes the court would grant a more reasonable sum.
Since Awang's arrest in Oct last year, the MACC froze the couple's assets and bank accounts for investigations.