Ex-Sabah Water Dept director claims RM20mil found in office 'belonged to others'

New Straits Times

3 days ago

KOTA KINABALU: A former Sabah Water Department (JANS) director told the court that the large amount of money found in his office during a 2016 raid by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) belonged to other individuals.
Ag Mohd Tahir Mohd Talib said the cash was already present when he began working in the office, adding that only a portion of it was his.
"Most of the cash in the pantry was not mine. It was already there when I took over the office. However, from time to time, I kept some of my own money there because my brother, who is the Umno treasurer, would occasionally come to ask for political donations. I estimate that about RM20 million was already there, and roughly RM3 million belonged to me," he said.
Ag Tahir was testifying before Judge Abu Bakar Manat as his defence trial resumed today.
Commenting on the "Go Away" sign found on the door beside the window behind his office desk, Ag Tahir said: "The sign was already there when I started working in the director's office."
It was previously reported that piles of cash were discovered inside a room with a "Go Away" sign on the doorknob in Ag Tahir's office.
During cross-examination by deputy public prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat, Ag Tahir said that the majority of the money belonged to others.
Prosecution: Were there any belongings in the pantry that belonged to other people?
Ag Tahir: Yes.
Prosecution: Could you specify what those belongings were? What exactly do you mean?
Ag Tahir: A large sum of money.
However, Ag Tahir said he could not recall whether the cash was removed and displayed at the front of his office during the raid. He also claimed he was unaware that the money could not be counted on-site due to its volume.
Prosecution: Were you in your office throughout the search, and did you witness the process?
Ag Tahir: I was seated there, but I did not witness the proceedings.
In response to another question, Ag Tahir testified that he did not know his wife, Fauziah Piut, held 19 bank accounts, nor was he aware that the total amount in those accounts came to RM2.2 million.
Ag Tahir also denied that, in addition to millions in cash, the MACC had found 900 items of jewellery.
He said he was unaware that the jewellery was valued at RM1.7 million in 2016 and that, in 2023, an expert witness had testified that its value had risen to RM4.1 million.
Standing trial alongside Ag Tahir, 63, are his wife Fauziah, 60, and former deputy director Lim Lam Beng, 66.
The trio jointly face 37 charges of money laundering involving cash and bank savings totalling RM61.57 million, as well as unlawful possession of luxury goods between October and November 2016.
Deputy public prosecutors Haresh Prakash Somiah and Zander Lim are conducting the trial.
Ag Tahir and Fauziah are represented by Datuk Ansari Abdullah and Erveana Ansari, while Lim is represented by Datuk Tan Hock Chuan, Baldev Singh, Karpaljit Singh, and Kelvin Wong.
The trial will resume on July 23.