Kota Kinabalu: A lawyer was freed from three charges of committing criminal breach of trust and involving in money-laundering pertaining to the 6,768.688 acres land sale to the Risda.
Sessions Court Judge Jason Juga discharged and acquitted (DNA) Persius Henry Bolutong @ Micheal Persius Ubu, 66, when the prosecution informed the court that the representation letter was accepted.
The court also ordered the bail of RM700,000 and Persius’ passport to be returned to him.
Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Zander Lim from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) asked for a discharge not amounting to an acquittal for Ubu.
SPONSORED CONTENT Daily Express members: Enjoy 1 for 1 signature cocktails and more at Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu Kota Kinabalu: DAILY EXPRESS is partnering with Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu to offer an exclusive deal for our members. Read more However, counsel Zahir Shah who defended Ubu, applied for a DNA saying that there was no reason for hanging over the charges.
On the first count, Ubu in his capacity as an agent of Risda, which entrusted him with a sum of RM15,545,400 paid through a cheque which was later banked into an account belonging to Ubu’s law firm and the money was for 10 per cent payment from the sale price of 6,768. 688 acres of palm oil farm in Sungah Pinangah and Sungai Labau in Tongod.
He allegedly breached the trust given to him by dishonestly releasing the property in which he violated the contract between him and Risda between July 22, 2014 and Nov 19, 2015 at Ubu’s law firm in Beverly Hills, Penampang.
On the second count, he is accused of involving in money laundering by receiving RM1 million proceeds from an unlawful activity of Syarikat Budiman Juta Sdn Bhd on July 25, 2014 at the same place.
On the third count, he allegedly received RM2.96 million being the proceeds from an unlawful activity by Syarikat Budiman Juta Sdn Bhd between Nov 27, 2015 and May 10, 2016 at the same place.
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