KOTA KINABALU: The Sessions Court here has fixed February for the trial of former Sabah Water Department (SWD) deputy director Teo Chee Kong and three others for money laundering.
Corruption Special Sessions Court judge Abu Bakar Manat fixed February 21, 22 and 23 for the joint trial dates for Teo, former SWD director Awang Mohd Tahir Mohd Talib, Mohd Tahir's wife Fauziah Piut and retired department deputy director Lim Lam Beng.
Trial dates for the trio had previously been fixed from Feb 5 to 9, Feb 20 to 23, March 5 to 8, and March 19 to 22.
Making the decision during Teo’s case management, Abu Bakar allowed the application by the prosecution team for a joint trial, on the grounds that the charges were connected and derived from same illegal activities based to the charge sheets and since the list of witnesses for Teo is similar with the three.
"The trial could be expedited as the prosecution could be calling the same witnesses," said Abu Bakar.
Teo, 53, on December 13 last year claimed trial to 146 charges of money laundering involving RM32.93 million.
All charges were under Section 4(1)(a) and Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001.
In October 2016, Teo and Awang Mohd Tahir were remanded by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) probe on mishandling of funds for water infrastructure projects in this State before being released on bail.
On Dec 29, 2016, Awang Mohd Tahir and Fauziah pleaded not guilty to 31 money-laundering charges involving RM59.1 million, as well two counts of possessing 575 pieces of jewellery and 346 other valuable items, acquired through illegal means.
Lim meanwhile was charged with four counts of money-laundering involving RM2.38 million.
Previously, the defence team, led by Roland Cheng, argued against the joint trial dates since the trio has more than a year to prepare, while his client was only charged in December last year.
During the case-management, the defence also applied for a recusal of Abu Bakar from Teo’s trial due to possibility of bias and that the judge has already formed an opinion although no decision has been delivered yet.
Abu Bakar responded that the counsel could write to the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak to appeal on the matter, adding “you may make any applications but the trial must go on”.