FORMER Sabah chief minister Musa Aman was today charged with 35 counts of corruption involving US$63 million (RM243 million) in relation to timber concessions in the state between 2004 and 2008.

The Sibuga assemblyman claimed trial to all charges before judge Rozina Ayob at the Kuala Lumpur sessions court this afternoon.

Musa was alleged to have received bribes totalling RM243 million in return for awarding timber concessions to more than 15 companies between 2004 and 2008.

The bribes were allegedly for awarding timber concessions to various companies when he was the chief minister and the chairman of the Lembaga Pemegang Amanah Yayasan Sabah.

All the bribes are said to have been offered in Singapore and Hong Kong and the money was then transferred into various bank accounts owned by his close associates.

The alleged offences under the MACC Act took place between December 20, 2004 to November 6, 2008 in the form of deposits to various local and international bank accounts.

Judge Rozina granted bail at RM2 million with two sureties, and allowed Musa to settle the bail in two instalments, RM1 million today and the remainder by November 7.

She also ordered Musa to remain in the peninsula until the whole bail amount was paid and surrender his passports. The case has been fixed for mention on December 13.

Musa, who is the older brother of former finance minister Anifah Aman, was represented by Amer Hamzah Arshad and Ridha Abdah while Gopal Sri Ram led the prosecution.

He is the latest to join the list of Umno leaders and senior civil servants charged after the 14th general election.

Former prime minister Najib Razak and his deputy Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, former Treasury secretary-general Irwan Serigar Abdullah, former spy chief Hasanah Abdul Hamid and Najib’s lawyer, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, have all been charged with various offences after Pakatan Harapan won federal power in May.

All of them, and Najib’s wife, Rosmah Mansor, were charged in relation to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal. All claimed trial and have been released on bail.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had said more arrests will be made in connection with the 1MDB scandal.

Two other Umno leaders, former Tabung Haji chairman and Baling MP Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim and former Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor are also being investigated by the MACC. – November 5, 2018.