I had no role in managing joint account: Wife

Kota Kinabalu: The Special Corruption Court on Wednesday heard that former Sabah Railway Department chief engineer Ismail Ahmad’s first wife, Muhilim @ Masniah Buaya @ Buayie (pic), had no role in managing the joint bank account she shared with him.

Muhilim, 65, a pensioner, who opted to give evidence under oath before Judge Andi Razalijaya A. Dadi, said this in her witness statement.

She said she had been married to Ismail since 1985 and they have five children together. According to her, Ismail was solely responsible for managing their joint HSBC bank account and did not inform her whenever money was deposited into it.

Muhilim said she did not question the source of the funds as she believed that throughout their marriage, Ismail had his own career as well as income from business and investments.

Although she was unaware of the details of his financial affairs, she said she believed that money managed by him came from legitimate sources.

Muhilim also told the court that she did not know an individual named Hiew Thiam Kiun and could not confirm whether Hiew had attended her eldest son’s wedding as many guests were present.

She denied inviting Hiew to the wedding and said she had no knowledge of Ismail receiving any payment from him.

In her witness statement, Muhilim maintained that she was innocent of the money laundering charges against her, saying she was never involved in or engaged in any unlawful activities as alleged by the prosecution.

She also told the court that the lengthy proceedings had affected her physical and emotional well-being, and appealed for justice by seeking an acquittal and discharge.

The defence also tendered several documents, including bank statements, insurance records, land titles, personal loan agreements and Employees Provident Fund (EPF) withdrawal records, which were marked as defence exhibits.

Referring to the personal loan agreements signed by her and Ismail, Muhilim said the loans were among the sources of income for her husband and family.

Ismail is jointly charged with Muhilim over RM275,550 allegedly derived from unlawful activities between March and September 2016 at the HSBC Kota Kinabalu branch.

He is also jointly charged with his second wife, Runtiah Rais, over RM133,300 allegedly derived from unlawful activities between February and September 2016 at the OCBC Bank Kota Kinabalu branch.

Runtiah also faces five separate money laundering charges involving a total of RM30,000 allegedly derived from unlawful activities at Maybank branches in Karamunsing, Putatan and Kg Air, as well as Pos Malaysia Putatan on July 1, 2016.

The charges were framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, which carries a maximum jail term of 15 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the unlawful proceeds or RM5 million, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

Ismail, Muhilim and Runtiah were represented by counsel Zahir Hussein Ahmad Shah, Datuk Rizwandean M Borhan and Elhanan James.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Deputy Public Prosecutors Haresh Prakash Somiah and Nurul Izzati Sapifee appeared for the prosecution.

The trial has been adjourned to Sept 14 and 15.