KUALA LUMPUR — The prosecution has filed an appeal against the eight-year jail sentence imposed on former Sabah Water Department director Ag Mohd Tahir Mohd Talib, which it considers low for corruption involving more than RM45 million.
In a statement today, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) Strategic Communications Division said the appeal was filed on May 25 against the sentence handed down by the Kota Kinabalu Special Corruption Sessions Court on May 19.
The prosecution is also appealing against the discharge and acquittal orders granted to Ag Mohd Tahir's wife, Fauziah Piut, and former Sabah Water Department deputy director Lim Lam Beng.
Ag Mohd Tahir, 63, was convicted on 12 charges of money laundering involving RM49.7 million.
The sessions court sentenced him to eight years' imprisonment for each charge, with all sentences to run concurrently, resulting in an effective jail term of eight years.
He was also fined RM284.3 million and faces an additional 78 months' imprisonment should he fail to pay the fine.
However, the court granted a stay of execution on both the prison sentence and fine pending the outcome of the appeal at the High Court, subject to the existing bail conditions remaining in place.
Fauziah had also been discharged and acquitted of 19 money laundering charges involving approximately RM2.2 million, while Lim was acquitted of four similar charges involving about RM2.3 million.
The court also found Ag Mohd Tahir and Fauziah not guilty of two joint charges involving assets valued at around RM6.5 million.
MACC in its statement today said the court further ordered that forfeiture proceedings involving all three accused be postponed until all appeals have been fully disposed of.
"The status quo of all seized items will remain in place, and any return of assets may only occur after the final disposal of all appeals in higher courts," the commission said.
The case stems from the MACC's Ops Water investigation launched in October 2016 into alleged corruption, money laundering and unlawful asset ownership involving senior Sabah Water Department officials.
The probe drew nationwide attention after investigators seized more than RM114 million in cash and assets — then the largest seizure in MACC history — including cash, luxury vehicles, jewellery, designer goods and more than 100 land titles.
Investigators were probing alleged irregularities linked to water and basic infrastructure projects in Sabah worth approximately RM3.3 billion.
Ag Mohd Tahir, Fauziah and Lim were formally charged on Dec 29, 2016, before undergoing court proceedings that stretched almost a decade.
The Kota Kinabalu Special Corruption Sessions Court delivered its decision on May 19 this year, paving the way for the prosecution's latest appeal. - June 1, 2026
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