Musa Aman freed of corruption and money laundering charges

KUALA LUMPUR June 9 — The High Court here today freed former Sabah Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman of all his 46 corruption and money laundering charges in connection with timber concession contracts in Sabah.

The decision was made by Judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin after deputy public prosecutor Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid told the court that the prosecution had withdrawn all the charges made against Musa in the two cases (corruption and money laundering).

On the 30 counts of corruption, Musa in his capacity as Sabah chief minister and Sabah Foundation Board of Trustees chairman allegedly received US$50.1 million from eight logging concessionaires as an inducement to approve logging concessions to 16 companies.

On the 16 counts of money-laundering, Musa allegedly instructed Richard Christopher Barnes, 67, to open an account at UBS AG Bank, Singapore, under the name of Richard Christopher Barnes, through which he intended to receive proceeds from illegal activities.

— BERNAMA