Kota Kinabalu: Stacks of cash and expensive handbags that were part of the items seized by the MACC in Sabah’s biggest RM130 million corruption scandal involving the State Water Department that is now into its eight year, making it the nation’s longest corruption case.
Other items included jewellery and luxury wristwatches. Judge Abu Bakar Manat, court officials as well as counsels first visited the office and house of former Director Ag Mohd Tahir Mohd Talib.
The group then went to Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) for continuation of trial conducted in a room declared as open court for the purpose of presentation, identification and marking of exhibits, which were all kept in the MACC special exhibit storage room in Bank Negara Kota Kinabalu premises.
Bank Negara denied a request by Daily Express that it be allowed to cover the hearing for public interest. It said the premises is a restricted area.
“We are unable to allow the designated Daily Express representative to enter BNM Kota Kinabalu premises, given that it is considered a restricted area under the Protected Areas and Protected Places Act 1959,” said BNM.
“In addition, court proceedings that will be taking place in BNM Kota Kinabalu will be limited to the process of identifying and confirming the seized assets related to this case only.
“Given that the full proceedings will be done in court itself, we believe that this will not impede the ability of Daily Express to cover the case comprehensively,” a spokesman said.
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