KOTA KINABALU: The corruption case of former Sawit Kinabalu Berhad Group Managing director Datuk Wasli Mohamad Said will be mentioned at the Sessions Court here on Jan 14 next year.
Sessions Court registrar Richard Isidore yesterday set the date at his chambers pending the outcome of Wasli’s appeal at the Court of Appeal against a High Court’s decision which dismissed his application to quash his five corruption and 95 money laundering charges involving RM27.36 million.
Wasli, who is represented by counsel Datuk Chau Chin Tang and Yong Pei Yi, had filed his notice of appeal at the High Court’s registry on Oct 13, this year.
On Oct 11, High Court judicial commissioner Stephen Chung Hian Guan dismissed Wasli’s application to quash all his charges and at the same time allowed the prosecution’s appeal against a Sessions Court’s ruling that it was no longer competent to hear Wasli’s five corruption charges.
In his ruling, Stephen had held that there was no blanket for Wasli from prosecution because his incriminating answers during the trial of former federal minister Tan Sri Kasitah Gaddam at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur for alleged abuse of power would not be used for his (Wasli) arrest or prosecution.
He said that this was because Wasli was already charged in the Sessions Court here with corruption and money laundering charges when he gave evidence in Kasitah’s trial.
Stephen added there is no immunity for Wasli under Section 132 (2) of the Evidence Act 1950 as the prosecution against him was not based on the evidence he gave during Kasitah’s trial.
Furthermore, Stephen said that there was doubt whether there was indeed an alleged promise given by the Attorney General’s chamber to Wasli to drop all the charges against him for giving evidence in the Kasitah’s case.
“There was nothing in writing to support the alleged promise,” said Stephen who then ordered Wasli’s corruption and money laundering charges to be re-mentioned at the Sessions Court.
Wasli, 61, had on Feb 12, 2008 claimed trial to five corruption charges related to the Sabah Land Development Board’s alleged shares disposal scam involving RM1 million and 3.36 million company shares.
The money was said to be gratification for supporting the approval for the purchase of SLDB shares in Sapi Plantation Sdn Bhd by Briskmark Interprise Sdn Bhd during meetings of SLDB Board of Directors between 1996 and 1998.
The alleged offence was committed at SLDB Office in Jalan Kelapa Sawit, Km 4, Jalan Tuaran.
Each of the charges under Section 3 (b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1961, provides for a fine of not exceeding RM10,000 or a jail term of up to five years or both, on conviction.
Wasli is also charged with 95 counts of money laundering involving RM23.million.
He had allegedly committed the offence at Affin Bank in Sadong Jaya and Ambank (M) in Wisma SESB respectively between Sept 2, 2002 and Dec 10, 2004.
Each of the offences under Section 4 (1) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) 2001 carries a jail term of up to five years or a fine of not exceeding RM5 million or both, on conviction.