Kota Kinabalu: Former State Water Department Deputy Director Teo Chee Kong told the Corruption Court, Thursday, that based on the formula of the centralised collection, he handed over RM51,710,755.09 to former Director Ag Mohd Tahir Ag Mohd Talib from April 2005 until September 2016.
Teo, the prosecution’s 29th witness, also told Judge Abu Bakar Manat that he handed over a total of RM29,578,843.60 from April 2005 until Feb 2015, also based on the same formula, to predecessor Deputy Director Lim Lam Beng,.
Continuing reading his witness statement, he confirmed that he prepared the Head Quarters List (HQ list) table on his own initiative to monitor and make distribution to recipients more easily with the correct amount and that he himself updated the Table.
He said he started preparing the HQ List table from April 29, 2005 until September 2016, in excel format.
“Every time I receive money from the Divisional and District Water Engineers, I will first collect and hand over the money according to the percentage received, which is 2.4 per cent to Awang Tahir, 1.5 per cent to Lim Lam Beng, and other recipients as I have stated for Centralised Collection formula.
“I will pack the money in a plastic courier package and hand it over within a week to Awang Tahir after I receive the contribution money from the Divisional Engineer and the District Engineer involved,” said Teo, adding he handed in cash to recipients.
Teo was testifying at the trial of Ag Mohd Tahir Mohd Talib, 58 his wife, Fauziah Piut, 55 who were jointly tried with Lim Lam Beng, 66, to 37 counts of money laundering charges, involving cash and bank savings amounting to RM61.57 million, as well as unlawful possession of luxury goods.
It was Sabah’s worst scandal involving RM130 million and the nation’s longest corruption trial now entering its eight year due to delays and interruptions.
On the collection method, Teo said before being given the project tender form, each divisional engineer or district engineer would inform contractors about the need to make the contribution.
The contribution would only be made once the contractors have completed the jobs in order for the payment voucher to be prepared by the Water Department headquarters and approved and signed by Ag Mohd Tahir.
There was no actual date set for the Division/District Water Engineers to submit the contribution to him.
“Since the Divisional/District Water Engineers are all over the state of Sabah, they will contact me first via SMS to find out my location and they will hand over the contribution collection to me, usually at home, in the office or around Kota Kinabalu,” said Teo.
“Usually the collection will be submitted to me within three to six months. They usually submit soon as possible, sometimes after several months.
“I will make sure that the contribution is submitted in the same year. This is because the Divisional/District Water Engineers will first collect a small amount (under RM50,000),” said Teo, adding that he did ask them not to submit small amount below RM50,000.
He said he informed them to submit
a large amount so as not to disturb his
task and time by collecting a small amount.
Normally once the collection has been received from the Divisional/District Water Engineers, he would keep them in his house which acted as a collection centre.
“I counted the money and will make the distribution according to the breakdown of the formula that has been agreed by Awang Tahir and Lim Lam Beng,” said Teo, who also confirmed that after the collection was made he would make the separation according to the percentage rate as in the formula list.
Except for Kota Kinabalu, the other divisions were collecting 10.75 per cent. For Kota Kinabalu, Teo said he would collect between 27.5 per cent and 34 per cent from the contractors.
“I confirm that for Kota Kinabalu Division collected 30 per cent,” he said. The breakdown of the Kota Kinabalu Division was as follows:
@ 10.75 per cent in compliance with Ag Mohd Tahir’s formula
@ five per cent (work engineer) Liaw Wee Ming
@ three per cent (technician) Yih Kian Kok
@ 1.5 per cent (technician) James Akang
@ three per cent for other staff
@ seven per cent for Teo as Kota Kinabalu Division.
Teo said there was no signature or document involved when he collected the money from the respective divisional engineers and district engineers.
However, he kept a record of the contribution based on the district, vote number (allocation heading) and the amount that need to be handed to the director and deputy director, on his personal computer, which already had been confiscated by the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Teo said both Ag Mohd Tahir and Lim Lam Beng knew about the existence of the record since he would give them the list each time he handed them the money.
“Normally, I will collect the money until Awang Tahir’s share reaches approximately RM150,000 to RM300,000 first before handing over to Awang Tahir according to the formula.
“Usually, I will send a SMS first to find out where Awang Tahir is and after that, I will go to the place and hand over the money in a courier bag.
Teo said Ag Mohd Tahir would usually receive his share at the Sabah State Water Department office and several times at Sutera Harbour Golf Club.
“When I hand over the money, I will say ‘boss this is the quotation money that was promised from the formula’. I also informed Awang Tahir that there is a list inside the courier bag for him to check.
“Awang Tahir only said ‘thank you’ and usually does not say much. He would take the money and put it under his desk,” said Teo, adding that the meeting was only about five minutes.
On the collection formula, Teo said Mohd Tahir was the mastermind of the centralised collection of “contributions’ formula and was the one who directs and makes the decision to design the formula which was made after discussing with Lim Lam Beng.
On the role of Sabah State Ministry of Finance (MoF), Teo said it is to provide the annual budget, additional budget, additonal Supplement and also the State treasurer to make payments to companies that make payments.
He said the Sabah State Water Department (JANS) sometimes applies for exemptions for emergency works and exemptions in tenders.
Meanwhile, he said Sabah State Water Department is under the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (KPI) and actually for “Rapport” that can provide support in budget application meetings.
“If there is any problem with the Sabah State Water Department, officials from the Ministry of Infrastructure Development will provide support.
“Therefore, these two ministries are important to the Sabah State Water Department to establish good relations with the Minister and senior officials to facilitate the daily affairs faced by the Sabah State Water Department,” said Teo.
Teo said Ag Mohd Tahir does know the allocation for these two ministries.
“Lim Lam Beng has also informed Awang Tahir that Lim and I will meet with the Minister to make a “courtesy call” to YB Datuk Raymond Tan’s office and inform them of the money being given to them.
Apart from Raymond, Teo said he and Lim Lam Beng also met with Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan on the allocation and contribution for his party. However, he did not state whether Pairin received any money or how much.
They also met with their “contact points” – KPI permanent secretaries Datuk Pg Hassanal, Datuk Felix Madan and Datuk Michael Emban, deputy permanent secretaries Datuk Maznah Ghani and Datuk Ahmad Hashim.
At the Ministry of Finance, their contact point was its permanent secretary Datuk Yusof Kassim and Datuk Pg Hassanal, deputy permanent secretary Datuk Peter Thien at the budget division.
“At the initial stage, I and Lim Lam Beng met with our contact points for rapport to facilitate the affairs of the Sabah State Water Department,” said Teo.
Teo noted that Ag Mohd Tahir owned more than one vehicle and also saw him wearing a Rolex watch at his office.
Teo also said he did not know whether Ag Mohd Tahir had any political connections.
Teo said Ag Mohd Tahir never informed him that the contribution collection was also to protect the interests of politicians and according to him Ag Mohd Tahir never informed him about the use of the money he received.
Meanwhile, Lim’s counsel Datuk Tan Hock Chuan, raised objections to several parts in Teo’s witness statement on the grounds that they were too remote with the dates stated in the charges against his client.
Tan also objected the table on the overall money which Teo claimed as in his witness statement that he had allegedly handed over to Ag Mohd Tahir and Lim.
The counsel told the court that they were ready to give their submission on those objections that they raised.
The judge held that the court would hear further arguments from both parties on Feb 1.
Deputy Public Prosecutors Mahadi Abdul Jumaat, Haresh Prakash Somiah and Zander Lim appeared for the prosecution.
Ag Mohd Tahir and Fauziah were represented by counsel Priskila Akwila Sinem.
Together with Tan in representing Lim were counsel Baldev Singh, Karpaljit Singh and Aaron Lau.
Counsel Ram Singh held a watching brief for Teo. Trial continues.
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