Expenses used for operation, water supply maintenance RM1,813,339,550, graft trial heard

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Water Department corruption trial on Monday heard that expenses used for operation and water supply maintenance in Sabah between 2005 and 2016 was RM1,813,339,550.

Investigation officer Mohd Yussof Awang Osman, 45, told judge Abu Bakar Manat that based on investigation on one of the prosecution’s witnesses from the Sabah Finance Ministry and supporting documents, it showed that the one responsible to manage allocations for the Sabah Water Department was the department’s director.

Under examination-in-chief, the witness explained that based on investigation and supporting documents from another witness, it had also revealed that allocation from the Water Department for Sabah including divisions and districts must be applied to the said department’s director.

Mohd Yussof further explained that the first accused Ag Mohd Tahir Mohd Talib allegedly signed authorised letters to use the allocations for period from 2005 to 2016.

“The authorised letters signed and issued were 8,387 approval letters which involved RM2,381,644,505.38 that referred to expenses after deductions of emolument, administration and utility expenses,” he testified in his witness statement.

To another question, Mohd Yussof testified that based on his investigation, he concluded that there was an offence committed under Section 165 of the Penal Code which is receiving money from a person which is related to the recipient’s official duties.

Apart from that offence, Mohd Yussof also said that there was an offence of money laundering committed.

To another question, Mohd Yussof testified that two reports were received dated September 19 and October 4, both in 2016.

He said one of the reports was regarding Ag Mohd Tahir who had allegedly in October 2013 received bribe which was a luxurious car from a company which was allegedly an operator for Semporna and Sepagaya in Lahad Datu.

Ag Mohd Tahir, 59, who was the former director of the said department, Ag Mohd Tahir’s wife Fauziah Hj Piut, 57, and former deputy director of the said department Lim Lam Beng, 68, were tried for alleged money laundering offences involving cash, bank savings as well as alleged unlawful possession of luxurious items.

Ag Mohd Tahir 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 (AMLATFPUA) 2001.

Fauziah has another two joint charges with Ag Mohd Tahir under Section 4 (1)(b) also of the same Act and Ag Mohd Tahir also has another charge under Section 4(1)(a) of the same Act.

The alleged offences against Ag Mohd 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 Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission office at Jalan UMS and at a house here between October 13 and November 8, 2016.

Deputy public prosecutors Mahadi Abdul Jumaat, Haresh Prakash Somiah and Zander Lim handled the trial.

Counsel Priskila Akwila Sinem and Mohammed Fareez Mohammed Salleh represented Ag Mohd Tahir and Fauziah.

Counsel Datuk Tan Hock Chuan, Baldev Singh, Karpaljit Singh and Kelvin Wong defended Lim. The trial will resume on January 23.