KOTA KINABALU: The Special Corruption Court heard today that former Sabah Water Department director Ag Mohd Tahir Mohd Talib allegedly received bribes totaling RM51,710,755.09 between 2005 and 2016.
Abdullah Sani A. Latib, 38, revealed this during the trial, stating that the bribes were part of an allocation amounting to RM2,154,614,795.59 over the same period.
As the 46th prosecution witness and the final witness in Sabah's largest corruption scandal, Abdullah, who previously served as the investigating officer for "Ops Water" and currently heads the Integrity and Governance Department at the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, disclosed these details before Sessions Court judge Abu Bakar Manat.
Abdullah's witness statement outlined that investigations into former Water Department deputy director Teo Chee Kong uncovered evidence, including the "HQ List Schedule," which indicated that Ag Tahir had received bribes handed over by Teo and documented in the schedule.
Teo recorded the bribe payments with the code "PJA," referring to "Pengarah Jabatan Air" (Water Department Director), Abdullah said.
Additionally, he said that Ag Tahir allegedly abused his position as director to authorise expenditure allocations and instructed Teo to collect bribes from contractors in the Sabah State Water Department.
In return, Ag Tahir purportedly accepted bribes from Teo and Michael Wong for personal gain.
Abdullah also alleged violations of Section 4 of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Amla) by Ag Tahir and his wife Fauziah Piut.
He claimed that the couple possessed assets acquired through unlawful activities, namely, the collection of bribes from contractors and abuse of power.
During the trial, Ag Tahir, Fauziah, and former deputy director Lim Lam Beng faced 37 counts of money laundering involving cash and bank savings totaling RM61.57 million, as well as unlawful possession of luxury goods between October and November 2016.
Representing Ag Tahir and Fauziah were Counsel Priskila Sinem and Mohammed Fareez Mohammed Salleh, while Lim was represented by Datuk Tan Hock Chuan, Baldev Singh, Karpaljit Singh, and Calvin Wong.
Deputy public prosecutors Mahadi Abdul Jumaat, Haresh Prakash Somiah, and Zander Lim conducted the trial.
The trial continues.