KOTA KINABALU: More than RM44 million cash was found in the office and house of the former Sabah Water Department (JANS) director Ag Mohd Tahir Mohd Talib.
Head of the raiding team Hishammudin Mohammed Esa, 49, disclosed this during examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Mahadi Abdul Jumaat.
Hishammudin was testifying as the 40th prosecution witness before Sessions Court judge Abu Bakar Manat in the hearing of Sabah's biggest corruption scandal.
He said more than RM23 million was found during the raid at Ag Tahir's office on Oct 4, 2016 in Wisma Muis.
"RM62,500 was found inside a bag marked "Tahir" at Ag Tahir's desk.
"The rest of the cash was found at three other locations inside a pantry room – a three-seater couch, TV cabinet, and wooden cabinet," he said, adding that the pantry room was behind Ag Tahir's desk.
He also testified that each bundle of money had between RM50,000 and RM100,000, and only Ag Tahir had access to the pantry room in his office.
The pantry room was the room with a "Go Away" signage on its door where piles of cash were found and seized by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), as reported yesterday.
Hishammudin also testified that on the same day, more than RM21 million was found when his team raided Ag Tahir's house in Sembulan.
To a question, he said more than RM8 million was found inside a room on the third floor of the house.
He also said that 86 branded and luxurious watches and 921 jewelry items were also found at the house.
The witness further testified that his team further discovered RM9 million and RM4 million cash respectively inside Mazda and Mercedes-Benz cars.
"About RM9 million was found in a Mazda car. The money was placed in several bags kept in the car bonnet. At that time the car was parked not far from the fence of the house that was parked outside the fence of the house.
"Another RM4 million was found inside a Mercedes Benz. The money was placed in a bag and put in the car bonnet," he said.
On trial were Ag Tahir, his wife Fauziah Piut, and former deputy director Lim Lam Beng. They were jointly tried on 37 counts of money laundering charges involving cash and bank savings of RM61.57 million, as well as unlawful possession of luxury goods.
The offences were allegedly committed between October and November, 2016.
Counsel Priskila Sinem and Mohammed Fareez Mohammed Salleh represented Ag Tahir and Fauziah, and Lim was represented by Datuk Tan Hock Chuan, Baldev Singh, Karpaljit Singh and Calvin Wong.
DPP Haresh Prakash Somiah and Zander Lim also prosecuted.
Trial adjourned to July 25 to 28.