Kota Kinabalu: A childhood friend of former State Water Works Director Ag Mohd Tahir Ag Mohd Talib said although three expensive vehicles were registered under the former’s company, they actually belonged to the latter.
These were a BMW5351, Volvo XC60 and Mazda6 and were registered under Syarikat Syuhada Enterprise.
Ampuan Hassim Ampuan Mahmot, 55, a self-employed, told the Special Corruption Court hearing Sabah biggest scandal involving RM62 million that the vehicles were always with Ag Mohd Tahir.
Hence, the RM9.1 million cash that was found on Oct. 4, 2016 inside the Mazda6 did not belong to him as it (Mazda) was under the care of Ag Mohd Tahir.
Ampuan, who was the prosecution’s 11th witness, told the court that all the vehicles were purchased by Ag Mohd Tahir and that he allowed his company’s name to be used by Ag Mohd Tahir to purchase them based on their family relationship.
Ampuan added that he never used the vehicles as they were all with Ag Mohd Tahir until today.
Another prosecution witness, Road Transport Department enforcement assistant officer, M. Sanin Samian, 42, confirmed that all three vehicles were registered under Syuhada Enterprise.
He said there was no information provided in the ownership columns relating to the cars, on whether they were bought cash or via loans and had been settled.
Earlier, a “close friend” of Ag Mohd Tahir who testified that he gave her RM280,000 cash as part-payment for a RM530,000 condominium, said she could have exaggerated on the RM300,000 he gave for its renovation.
Christine Fiona M Ponsoi, 36, said she could not remember exactly how much she spent on the renovation which involved changing the flooring, installation of cabinets, kitchen and wall decoration.
The Business Development Officer told Marcel Jude, counsel for the accused during cross-examination that her job involved analysing business proposals.
Counsel: That’s means you look into costings and budget?
Witness: Yes.
Counsel: But for some strange reasons, as you stated in your witness statement that you had appointed an interior decorator, you are unable to give the court specific details of renovation items. That means your statement the renovation costs RM300,000 is an exaggeration. Do you agree?
Witness: I do not remember actually, but it could be an exaggeration. I am not sure how much the renovation cost exactly, so there’s a possibility of the use of approximate and hence the exaggeration is there on both answers.
However, she said the payment of the renovation was handled by her and that the source of money was Ag Mohd Tahir.
On trial is Ag Mohd Tahir, 58, his wife Fauziah Piut, 55, and former deputy director of the department Lim Lam Beng, 66, who had on Dec 29, 2016 pleaded not guilty to 37 counts of money laundering, involving RM61.57million.
To a suggestion, she agreed with Marcel that the seizure form that stated RM14,000 cash was found in her condominium was fabricated or false because it did not state the room where the cash was found.
However, when asked by the prosecution during re-examination to explain her answer of agreeing to the fabrication and was also asked whether she knew why the room where the cash was recovered was not written in the seizure form, Christine said:
“Earlier I agreed that it was not stated in the form where the money was found. On the fabricated and false evidence part, I am not sure.”
Christine said that on Oct. 4, 2016, she went to her parent’s house for lunch and was surprised to find Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers waiting who took her to her Condominium at Puncak Luyang.
She said she was in a state of shock, fear and anxiety as the officers did not tell her their reason for bringing her there.
She said the RM14,000 cash which she received from Ag Mohd Tahir in early September of the same year was found by the officers inside a plastic bag in a backpack in the condo.
She agreed with counsel that the RM14,000 was just money for a rainy day.
Christine said she was under pressure at that time and faced recurring questions from the MACC officers.
“I am in an unstable state and until today I am suffering from stress over this incident,” said Christine, adding she was brought to the MACC office after the raid and was only released at 10pm the same day.
Deputy Public Prosecutors Mahadi Abdul Jumaat and Haresh Prakash Somiah prosecuted before Judge Abu Bakar Manat.
Ag Mohd Tahir and Fauziah were represented by counsel Marcel Jude while counsel Datuk Tan Hock Chuan, Baldev Singh and Karpaljit Singh appeared for Lim.
Trial continues.
