Ex-director claims millions found were business profits

Borneo Post

5 hours ago

KOTA KINABALU (June 25): A former director of the Sabah Water Department told the Sessions Court here today that the large amount of cash allegedly found by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) was derived from profits of business ventures with his partners.
Ag Mohd Tahir Mohd Talib, 63, testified before judge Abu Bakar Manat, naming three business partners — one of whom was his brother — who were contractors involved in the ventures.
He said he had provided business capital to them from his personal savings, though he could not recall the specific amounts as the arrangements dated back many years. The agreements, he added, were made orally without written documentation.
Ag Mohd Tahir also stated that in addition to business profits, the cash in question included his salary.
Taking the stand as the first defence witness, Ag Mohd Tahir read his testimony aloud in open court. His statement spans 155 pages.
Under examination-in-chief, he testified to receiving substantial profits — RM5 million, RM30 million and RM12 million — from his partners, all in cash. He claimed to have roughly counted the money he received.
He further asserted that the luxury vehicles and items allegedly found in his possession were purchased using both his salary and business profits.
Ag Mohd Tahir is on trial alongside his wife, Fauziah Hj Piut, 58, and the department's former deputy director, Lim Lam Beng @ Lim Chee Hong, 69.
He faces 11 charges under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, while Fauziah faces 19 similar charges. The couple also jointly face two additional charges under the same section. Ag Mohd Tahir has an additional charge under Section 4(1)(a) of the Act.
The offences allegedly took place at various locations in Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur — including the department's office, a residence in Sembulan, bank branches, a condominium in Sulaman, and a tower in Kuala Lumpur — between October 4 and November 4, 2016.
Meanwhile, Lim is accused of committing offences at the MACC office on Jalan UMS and at a residence in Kota Kinabalu between October 13 and November 8, 2016.
The prosecution is led by Deputy Public Prosecutors Mahadi Abdul Jumaat, Haresh Prakash Somiah and Zander Lim.
Ag Mohd Tahir and Fauziah are represented by counsel Datuk Hj Ansari Abdullah and Erveana Ansari, while Lim is represented by counsel Datuk Tan Hock Chuan, Baldev Singh, Karpaljit Singh and Kelvin Wong.
The trial is scheduled to resume on June 26.