THE Sessions Court in Johor Baru today acquitted former Johor executive council member Abdul Latif Bandi, his son and a real estate consultant of corruption and money laundering charges involving RM35.7 million.

Judge Kamaruddin Kamsun made the decision after finding that the prosecution has failed to prove a prima facie case against the three.

Latif, 56, was charged with 33 counts of corruption and 13 counts of money laundering, his son, Ahmad Fauzan Hatim, 30, was charged with four counts of money laundering and the consultant, Amir Shariffuddin Abd Raub, 49, was charged with 33 counts of corruption and four counts of money laundering.

They were charged on June 14, 2017 and April 21, 2019. Subsequently, the court acquitted and discharged them of all the charges after finding the prosecution having failed to prove a prima facie case.

However, on November 7, 2021, the High Court ordered the former State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman and the two to enter their defence on the 37 charges, following a ruling by judge Abu Bakar Katar that the Sessions Court had erred in its decision.

On the corruption charges, the three men were charged under section 28(1)(C) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (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.

Kamaruddin, in his judgment, said the court has looked into all the evidence presented during the trial as well as heard submissions by both parties, and found that the defence has successfully raised reasonable doubt on the prosecution’s case.

He said the court found that the consultation fee received by Shariffuddin was legally valid and, therefore, refuted the prosecution’s claim that the money was obtained from unlawful activities.

The defence succeeded in raising reasonable doubt on the prosecution’s case and as such, all the accused are acquitted and discharged of all the charges and the bail to be with returned, said the judge.

Deputy director I of the Legal and Prosecution Division of MACC Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, who appeared for the prosecution and assisted by deputy public prosecutors Ahmad Akram Gharib and Mahadi Abdul Jumaat.Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, said the prosecution will file an appeal against the decision.

Latif and Fauzan were represented by lawyers Salehuddin Saidin, Hasnal Rezua Merican, Siti Sarah Khalil, Zulaikha Aini Mohamed Khoir Johari, Rahim Alin and Muzzamil Merican, while lawyer Khairulazwad Sariman represented Shariffuddin. – Bernama, August 7, 2022.