A former Sabah Water Department director and his wife, and a state Finance Ministry technical and engineering adviser pleaded not guilty in Kota Kinabalu today to a total of 37 counts of misappropriating infrastructure funds amounting to RM61.48 million in cash and bank savings as well as unlawfully possessing luxury products.

The 54-year-old former director Ag Mohd Tahir Mohd Talib pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court to 12 counts of misappropriating infrastructure funds amounting to RM56.9 million and unlawfully possessing various branded wrist watches and vehicles.

He also pleaded not guilty with his wife, Fauziah Piut, 51, to two counts of unlawfully possessing jewellery, while Fauziah was charged with 19 more offences of unlawfully possessing jewellery and luxury bags as well as a total of RM2.2 million in various bank accounts.

The technical and engineering adviser, Lim Lam Peng, 62, who is suspended from his post, claimed trial to three counts of possessing a total of RM2.38 million in cash and unlawfully possessing a vehicle.

The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutors from MACC, comprising Husmaruddin Hussin, Farez Rahman, Anas Mahathir, Rozanna Abd Hadi and Rustam Sanip.

Ag Mohd Tahir and Fauziah were represented by a panel of three lawyers, namely PJ Perira, Hairul Vaiyron and Ariel C Dasan. 

Ag Mohd Tahir was arrested by the MACC during the 'Ops Water' operation on Oct 4 and released on RM500,000 bail after being remanded for two weeks, while Lim was arrested on Oct 13. 

The MACC, in a statement, said Ag Mohd Tahir and Fauziah failed to post bail up to this evening and were sent to the Kota Kinabalu Prison.

Their lawyer, Hairul Vaiyron, confirmed this when contacted.

The MACC also said that Lim was released after he posted bail by means of a bank draft. This was also confirmed by his lawyer, Chin.

- Bernama