Business tycoon Abu Sahid’s cases set for joint trial in KL court

KUALA LUMPUR: Business tycoon Tan Sri Abu Sahid Mohamed’s criminal breach of trust (CBT) case involving RM145.5mil in the Shah Alam Sessions Court has been transferred to the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court for a joint trial.

Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussin made the order of transfer after deputy public prosecutor Datuk Ahmad Akram Gharib informed the court that the prosecution had obtained approval to move the case.

“On Sept 8, the accused is facing four counts of CBT here and in today’s proceedings, the prosecution is applying for the CBT case in Shah Alam to be transferred here for a joint trial,” DPP Ahmad Akram said.

Abu Sahid’s lawyer Datuk Jasbeer Singh did not object to the application.

In the proceedings today, the charge from the Shah Alam Sessions Court was re-read to Abu Sahid, who maintained his plea of not guilty.

On Sept 8, Abu Sahid was charged in Kuala Lumpur with four counts of CBT amounting to RM313mil linked to the MEX II proposed highway project.

The 74-year-old was also slapped with 13 counts of money laundering amounting to RM139mil, monies believed to be proceeds from illegal activities.

According to the first to the fourth charge sheets, Abu Sahid, who was charged in his capacity as a director of Maju Holdings Sdn Bhd, allegedly committed CBT by dishonestly misusing a total of RM313,124,617.02 that belonged to the company.

He was accused of committing the offences at a bank in Bukit Tunku between May 3, 2016 and Oct 21, 2019.

Abu Sahid was charged under Section 409 of the Penal Code, which carries imprisonment up to 20 years, caning and a possible fine upon conviction.

For the first 10 money laundering charges, he is accused of transferring RM116,449,536.12 from his bank account to the accounts of five individuals and four construction companies between May 4, 2016 and Oct 29, 2019.

For the 11th to the 13th money laundering charges, he allegedly disposed of proceeds from illegal activities amounting to RM22,802,612.86 by cashing multiple cheques between May 4, 2016 and Sept 19, 2018.

The charges under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLATFPUAA) 2001, carry prison time of up to 15 years and a fine of no less than five times the amount of proceeds from illegal activities or RM5mil, whichever is higher, if found guilty.

On Sept 24, Abu Sahid was charged with a single charge of CBT at the Shah Alam Sessions Court for allegedly misappropriating RM145.5mil entrusted to him in his capacity as director of Maju Holdings.

The funds were reportedly transferred to a construction company between Jan 12 and June 13, 2018.

Abu Sahid is currently out on a RM1.5mil bail. The case is fixed for mention on Jan 8, next year.