KOTA KINABALU: The Sessions Court here set bail for three individuals, including an ex-Sabah Water Department director and his wife, who were charged with money-laundering.
In making the decision, Judge Ummu Khaltom Abdul Samad set RM10 million bail for the director Awang Mohd Tahir Mohd Talib, 54, and RM2 million bail for Fauziah Piut, 51.
Meanwhile, a bail of RM1 million was fixed for former deputy director Lim Lam Beng.
Ummu set the bail with two local sureties and ordered the accused to surrender their travel documents.
She set Feb 28 for case management.
Earlier, the trio were charged under Section 4 (1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 for abetting the commission of money-laundering.
Awang faces 12 money-laundering charges involving RM56.9 million, while Fauziah faces 19 charges involving RM2.2 million. They pleaded not guilty.
The couple also claimed trial to two counts of possessing 575 pieces of jewellery and 346 other valuable items.
Meanwhile, Lim pleaded not guilty to four money-laundering charges involving RM2.38 million.
The two senior officers were among 28 people arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in October on suspicion of siphoning money from billion ringgit-worth federal funded projects to boost clean water supply in Sabah.
Following his arrest, Awang was suspended from his post and the state government has since appointed senior officer Wilis @ Mojiron Ansoi as the new director for the Sabah Water Department.
Fauziah was among those called up by MACC to give their statement during the investigation process.