Kota Kinabalu: The High Court on Wednesday ordered a former Sabah Railway Department chief engineer and his two wives to enter their defence on seven money laundering charges involving RM438,850 after allowing the prosecution’s appeal against their earlier acquittal.
Judge Datuk Celestina Stuel Galid held that the Sessions Court had erred in law and fact when it discharged and acquitted Ismail Ahmad, 65, his first wife Muhilim @ Masniah Buaya @ Buayie, 65, and second wife Runtiah Rais, 50, and ordered the case to be remitted to the Sessions Court for the defence stage.
The charges comprise one joint charge involving Ismail and Muhilim, one joint charge involving Ismail and Runtiah, and five charges against Runtiah alone, with the court ordering Ismail to enter his defence on both joint charges and Runtiah on the five charges against her.
The High Court deferred its decision on the prosecution’s appeal relating to five separate charges against Ismail alone, pending the outcome of the defence stage on the remaining charges, and fixed July 23 for e-review, while the Sessions Court set July 13 to 17 for the defence hearing.
Sessions Court Judge Elsie Primus granted bail of RM100,000 to Ismail and RM50,000 each to Muhilim and Runtiah with one surety each, and ordered them to surrender their passports and report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission office at least once a month until the disposal of the case.
