KOTA KINABALU: Former Sabah Water Department director Ag Mohd Tahir Mohd Talib received an annual "return thanks" (contribution) of RM1.35 million since 2004 until 2015.
Wong Kok Vui @ Michael, 69, in the hearing of Sabah's biggest corruption scandal, estimated a total of RM15 million to RM16.2 million had been given to Tahir.
He claimed in his witness statement that the money received by Tahir was earned from job contracts he (Wong) had obtained from the water department.
Wong was testifying before Sessions Court judge Abu Bakar Manat in the trial of ex-Sabah Water Department director Ag Mohd Tahir, 59, his wife Fauziah Piut, 57, and former deputy director Lim Lam Beng, 66.
The three were jointly charged with 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.
Wong is a businessman who owns two companies. He had used a business license belonging to a Bumiputera to obtain contracts from the water department.
"I submitted RM450,000 three times in a year, amounting to RM1.35 million annually.
"I started handing over cash to Tahir in 2004 until 2015 with a fixed amount of RM1.35 million per year where the total amount was between RM15 million and RM16.2 million. This is my estimate. I do not remember the exact amount because I do not have any record of payment.
"The money that I handed over to the director (Tahir) was the money that I earned from the job quotation claims for works in Kota Kinabalu division, Tuaran, Papar, Kudat, Kota Marudu, Keningau, Tenom and Tambunan.
"The money or this commission was meant for "return thanks" because the director, namely Tahir made it easy for me to get job contracts from the Sabah state Water Department.
"Tahir is the person who has the authority to approve allocations for all divisions and districts in Sabah for the Water Department. If I did not give the cash, likely, I will not be able to obtain jobs from the Water Department," he said.
Wong also estimated that payment vouchers for his jobs from 2014 until 2015 were approximately RM130 million and could be more.
He said he had given a 33 per cent commission to Teo Chee Kong (the department's former deputy director) from 2004 until 2016 worth approximately RM10 million.
Wong also confirmed that he gave 30 per cent of job quotations to the water department divisions based on the contribution scheme.
He also said that he obtained an estimated overall net profit of RM12 million from successful bidding contracts.
Deputy public prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat appearedfor the prosecution.
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.