FORMER Sabah Water Department director Ag Mohd Tahir Ag Talib, charged with corruption with his wife, Fauziah Piut, was today allowed to post bail using land titles in lieu of cash at the Kota Kinabalu High Court.

High Court judge Nurchaya Arshad made the decision after reviewing the written objection from deputy public prosecutor Rozanna Abdul Hadi.

Ag Tahir, 56, had filed a motion to be allowed to use land titles, valued at RM2 million as bail, after his family members could only raise RM500,000.

On December 29 last year, Ag Tahir and Fauziah pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court to 31 charges of money-laundering amounting to RM56.9 million and unlawful possession of luxury goods.

On January 20, the High Court reduced Ag Tahir’s RM10 million bail to RM5 million, with RM2 million to be deposited fully. Fauziah’s bail was also reduced from RM2 million to RM1 million with RM500,000 to be deposited in full.

But Rozanna, from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, objected to the variation in bail terms.

Nurchaya, however, said there was nothing in the law to state that bail must be posted in cash, but later allowed the DPP to submit a written objection before breaking for recess.  

Meanwhile, Sessions Court judge Abu Bakar Manat has set a two-month trial, beginning July 4. – June 9, 2017.