KOTA KINABALU: A former division water engineer told the Special Corruption Court here that RM1.2 million in cash was seized from him by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in relation to the contribution collection scheme.
Tam Yin Foon, 58, said that the money was seized at his home in October 2016.
He was testifying before Sessions Court judge Abu Bakar Manat.
On trial are ex-Sabah Water Department director Ag Mohd Tahir, 59, his wife Fauziah Piut, 57, and former deputy director Lim Lam Beng, 66.
They were jointly tried on 37 counts of money laundering involving cash and bank savings amounting to RM61.57 million, as well as unlawful possession of luxury goods between October and November 2016.
Tam was the Kota Belud division water engineer from 2002 to 2007 and later Keningau division since 2007.
Tam the prosecution's 33rd witness, is currently a senior assistant director of a branch at the state Drainage and Irrigation Department. He has held the position since March 2021.
During re-examination by deputy public prosecutor Haresh Prakash Somiah, Tam recalled that when the scandal broke in 2016, the MACC went to his office in Keningau, and he was remanded for seven days to assist the investigation.
DPP Haresh: What happened next?
Tam: I had my statements recorded and after the remand period, I was occasionally called to record further statements. Apart from that, I handed over RM1.2 million to the MACC. I also asked the contractor to hand over RM300,000 to the MACC. At the end of my remand, the MACC asked me to withdraw RM300,000 from my bank account and hand it over.
Tam added that he and the contractor had respectively handed over RM300,000 to the MACC.
He said the RM300,000 money withdrawn from his bank account was his money and had nothing to do with the ongoing cases.
"That is indeed my own money from my late father who passed away in 2014. I inherited his money. I also have income from renting. So, when MACC asked me to withdraw RM300,000, I just followed because at that time I didn't know anything."
When asked where he kept the money earned from this scheme, Tam said: "I keep most of it at home, some in the bank."
Tam said that he did not remember how much money from the scheme he had put in his bank account from 2015 to 2016.
Tam, however, said that the money was to pay a housing loan, car loan, credit card, and also for traveling expenses.
DPPs Mahadi Abdul Jumaat and Zander Lim also prosecuted.
Counsels Priskila Akwila Sinem and Mohammed Fareez Mohammed Salleh represented Ag Tahir and Fauziah, while Datuk Tan Hock Chuan, Baldev Singh, Karpaljit Singh and Calvin Wong defended Lim.
Hearing continues.