KOTA KINABALU: The discovery of a large stash of cash and valuables in the house of former Sabah Water Department director Ag Mohd Tahir Mohd Talib is "extraordinary", the Sessions Court heard today.
Head of the raiding team Hishammudin Mohammed Esa, 49, said it was the largest discovery of cash and valuables ever made at that time by an enforcement agency, before the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MBD) case.
He was testifying before Sessions Court judge Abu Bakar Manat in the hearing of Sabah's biggest corruption trial.
He was responding to an additional question from deputy public prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat on why he used the word "extraordinary" in his witness statement.
"I used 'extraordinary' because the amount of money and valuables found in Ag Tahir's house was very large, making it a big catch at that time among all enforcement agencies.
"Before that, no law enforcement agency had discovered a large number of exhibits. After that, the 1MDB case broke (the record)," he said.
To another question, Hishammudin said exhibits seized from Ag Tahir namely cars and electronic gadgets were kept by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), while other exhibits such as money, jewellery, diamond rings, luxury handbags and watches were kept at the Bank Negara Sabah branch.
During his previous testimony last month, the witness said more than RM23 million in cash was discovered at Ag Tahir's office. He had also said RM8 million was found in Ag Tahir's house, while RM9 million and RM4 million in cash respectively were found inside Mazda and Mercedes-Benz cars.
He had also testified that 86 luxury wristwatches and 921 jewellery items were also found at the house.
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 involving cash and bank savings of RM61.57 million, as well as unlawful possession of luxury goods.
The offences were 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.
The trial continues.