JOHOR BARU – The Sessions Court here today postponed decision on the case involving former Johor executive council member Datuk Abd Latif Bandi, his son, and a real estate consultant who are facing 37 charges of corruption and money laundering amounting to more than RM30 million to Aug 7.
Judge Kamarudin Kamsun, who was scheduled to deliver the verdict today, said there are still some arguments that need to be submitted by parties involved.
“I need to listen to those arguments before making a decision. So, I can’t make a decision today, hence, a new date will be set,” he said.
Lawyer Datuk Salehuddin Saidin, represented Latif, 56, and his son, Ahmad Fauzan Hatim, 30, then applied for the court to hear the submission by the defence.
During the proceedings, the court heard submissions by the prosecution, represented by Deputy Director I, Legal and Prosecution Division of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, and assisted by deputy public prosecutors Ahmad Akram Gharib and Mahadi Abdul Jumaat.
On June 14, 2017, Latif, Fauzan and Amir Shariffuddin Abd Raub, 49, were charged with 33 counts of corruption and four counts involving money laundering amounting to RM35.7 million and they all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
On April 21, 2019, Kamarudin acquitted and discharged the three of them of the 37 charges after finding the prosecution having failed to prove a prima facie case.
However, on Nov 7, 2021, the high court ordered the former chairman of the state, housing and local government committee and the two others to enter their defence on the 37 charges, following a ruling by judge Datuk Abu Bakar Katar that the sessions court had erred in its decision.
On the corruption charges, the three men are charged under Section 28 (1) (C) of the MACC Act 2009, read together with Section 16 (a) (B) of the same act.
They were also charged under Section 32 (8) (c) and Section 89 of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds from Unlawful Activities Act 2001. – Bernama, June 26, 2022
