KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 8): The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said it will file more charges against Maju Expressway owner Tan Sri Abu Sahid Mohamed and former Maju Holdings director Datuk Yap Wee Leong in relation to the Maju Expressway Extension (MEX II) project.

MACC deputy public prosecutor Datuk Ahmad Akram Gharib said this in a statement on Monday after the duo had earlier in the day claimed trial to 17 charges each at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.

Ahmad Akram said Abu Sahid will face seven additional charges under Section 109 of the Penal Code read together with Section 403, involving the alleged dishonest misappropriation of RM145 million.

Section 109 states that a person can be punished for instigating or aiding in the commission of an offence, even if they are not the principal actor. When read together with Section 403 — dishonest misappropriation of property — it creates liability for anyone who assisted or facilitated the unlawful diversion of funds.

Section 403 itself criminalises the dishonest misappropriation or conversion of property for one’s own use and carries penalties of up to five years’ imprisonment, whipping and a fine.

Yap, meanwhile, is expected to face 18 fresh counts — nine under Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009 involving a sum of RM209 million and a further nine under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLATFPUAA) 2001 involving a total sum of RM387 million relating to the offence of money laundering.

“The new charges will be filed in the near future,” Ahmad Akram said without being more specific.

On Monday, Abu Sahid was formally charged with four counts of criminal breach of trust involving RM313 million and 13 counts of money laundering involving RM139.2 million. The CBT charges were framed under Section 409 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in jail, caning and a fine.

Yap, meanwhile, was charged with 17 counts of using false documents — progress claims valued between RM9 million and RM28 million each — filed between June 2017 and April 2018 for works under the MEX II project. The claims, prosecutors allege, were fictitious and amounted to over RM314 million in total.

Both men pleaded not guilty to all charges. Abu Sahid, who appeared in court in a wheelchair, was granted bail of RM1.5 million in one surety, while Yap was also released on bail of RM1 million.