KOTA KINABALU – A former director of the Sabah Water Department was accused of receiving corruption money amounting to RM51,710,755.09 between 2005 and 2016, the sessions court here heard today.
Abdullah Sani A. Latib, 38, who was testifying before judge Abu Bakar Manat, said the alleged corruption money within the said years involved allocations of RM2,154,614,795.59.
In his witness statement, Sani, who is currently integrity and governance director at the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, testified that the alleged amount of corruption money received by Ag Mohd Tahir Mohd Talib, 59, was based on an investigation into Teo Chee Kong, Ag Tahir’s former deputy director, and also based on a supporting document that was seized by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Under examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat, the 46th and last witness for the prosecution explained that the supporting document, namely the “HQ List Schedule” seized from Teo, stated the records of the alleged corruption money received.
To a question, Sani said Teo had recorded the alleged bribe payments with the code PJA, referring to “Pengarah Jabatan Air”.
He further testified that, based on the witnesses’ statements and the evidence obtained, there was a violation under Section 23(1) of the MACC Act 2009.
Sani, who is one of the investigating officers for this case, testified that Ag Tahir had allegedly used his position as director to allegedly authorise expenditure allocations and allegedly instructed Teo to collect bribes from contractors in the said Water Department and in return, Ag Tahir allegedly accepted bribes from Teo and one Micheal Wong for himself.
The witness further said that there was also a violation of Section 4 of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds Unlawful Activities Act 2001, allegedly by Ag Tahir and his wife Fauziah Piut.
To another question, Sani said the investigation into employment records and income tax payment records showed that Ag Tahir did not have any source of business income apart from his salary as director.
As for Fauziah, he testified, among others, that in a raid conducted by a MACC raiding team, she allegedly had knowledge and control over all the high-value jewellery items that were found and confiscated, which allegedly belonged to her.
Ag Tahir, Fauziah, 57, and former deputy director of the state Water Department, Lim Lam Beng, 68, were jointly tried for alleged money laundering offences involving cash and bank savings, as well as the alleged unlawful possession of luxurious items.
The former director faces 11 charges, while Fauziah faces 19 charges under Section 4 (1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
Fauziah has another two joint charges with her husband under Section 4(1)(b) of the same Act and Ag Tahir also has another charge under Section 4(1)(a) of the same Act.
The alleged offences against Ag Tahir and his spouse were committed at an office here, a house in Sembulan, at bank branches, at a condominium in Sulaman and a tower in Kuala Lumpur between October 4 and November 4, 2016.
Lim was alleged to have committed the offences at the MACC office at Jalan UMS and at a house here between October 13 and November 8, 2016.
The trial was handled by deputy public prosecutors Haresh Prakash Somiah and Zander Lim. Counsels Priskila Akwila Sinem and Mohammed Fareez Mohammed Salleh represented Ag Tahir and Fauziah.
Counsels Datuk Tan Hock Chuan, Baldev Singh, Karpaljit Singh and Kelvin Wong represented Lim.
The trial will resume tomorrow. – May 15, 2024