KOTA KINABALU: Former Sabah Water Department deputy director Lim Lam Beng had surrendered sums of money to Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in 2016.
Lim handed over RM200,000 on Oct 22; RM1.9 million on Nov 7; and RM280,000 on Nov 8, in the same year.
This was disclosed by investigating officer Mohd Yussof Awang Osman, 45, before Sessions Court judge Abu Bakar Manat in the hearing of Sabah's biggest corruption scandal.
Lim had on Dec 29, 2016, claimed trial to four counts of possessing cash and vehicles from proceeds of unlawful activities between October and November 2016.
He was jointly charged with the department's former director Ag Tahir Mohd Talib, and his wife Fauziah Ag Piut, who had pleaded not guilty to multiple charges of money laundering, involving RM61.57 million as well as unlawful possession of luxury goods.
Yussof, during the examination-in-chief before judge Abu Bakar Manat, also testified that based on the investigation conducted against the witnesses as well as the supporting documents, there was evidence that Lim as a civil servant allegedly committed an offence under Section 165 of the Penal Code for receiving money from contractors.
Yussof said that there was also an offence of money laundering committed for owning a vehicle and receiving cash as a result of illegal activities.
Yussof also said that based on the investigation against Teo Chee Kong and the supporting documents seized, Lim allegedly received bribes amounting to RM31,025,495.11 from 2005 to 2015.
Teo was also the department's deputy director after Lim.
LINK: https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2022/03/780922/teo-sheds-tears-...
Yussof further testified that a RM1,813,339,550 allocation had been used for the operational and maintenance expenses of the water supply in Sabah between 2005 and 2016.
He said Ag Tahir, the first accused, allegedly signed the authorised letters to use the allocations from 2005 to 2016.
"Some 8,387 approval letters were signed by the director involving a total of RM2,381,644,505.38, which refers to spending after deducting emolument, administration and utility expenses," he added.
Earlier, Lim's counsel Datuk Tan Hock Chuan, raised objections to several parts of Yussof's witness statement on the grounds that it was the opinion of the investigating officer, and that opinion amounts to hearsay evidence.
Tan also said that some of the witness statements were not related to the four charges against Lim.
He said a detailed submission will be made at the end of the prosecution case so as not to disturb the course of the trial.
Deputy Public Prosecutors Mahadi Abdul Jumaat, Haresh Prakash Somiah, and Zander Lim appeared for the prosecution.
Counsel Priskila Sinem and Mohammed Fareez Mohammed Salleh represented Ag Tahir and Fauziah.
Together with Tan in representing Lim were counsel Baldev Singh, Karpaljit Singh and Calvin Wong.
Trial continues.