Kota Kinabalu: The Special Corruption Court heard on Thursday that the 597 pieces of gold jewellery weighing a total of 10.938kg seized in the corruption case of a former Sabah Water Department Director and two others were valued at RM1,731,769.45.
Sabah Gold Business Association President Datuk Alexander Lo Su Hyen (pic) testified before Judge Abu Bakar Manat that he together with one Stephen Chang, who is the association’s advisor, conducted a session of valuation of gold jewelleries, which were in five boxes, at Bank Negara Malaysia Sabah on Dec 1, 2016.
Lo, who is the prosecution’s 43rd witness, said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had asked for his help in evaluating gold items type 999, 950, 916, 835, 750 and 375 which were related to the case being investigated by MACC.
Having expertise in gold jewellery appraisal for 36 years, Lo, who is also the owner of two gold shops in Tuaran, said they did the gold appraisal on the first four bags which had 575 items for approximately seven hours, starting from 10am until 4.30pm.
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He confirmed the market value of the jewelleries was RM1,706,967.25.
The next session was at 5pm for gold jewelleries in another box containing 22 items, he said, adding the market value of the jewelleries was RM24,802.20.
He testified that the gold valuation was based on My Smart Gold International Price at www.mysmartgold.com dated Dec 1, 2016.
He explained that the website is owned by Smart Gold International, a Malaysian company whose business is selling gold bars in the international market and that gold traders in Malaysia always use the website to refer to the gold market price.
Lo confirmed preparing two documents on the gold items - Report and Valuation - dated Dec 5, 2016.
He said when preparing the two reports, the market prices for per gramme was 999 gold was RM170, 950 (RM155), 916 (RM150), 835 (RM140), 750 (RM120) and 375 (RM60).
To a question by Deputy Public Prosecutor Zander Lim during examination-in-chief, Lo said the total price of the gold items was RM1,731,769.45.
“The total value of the jewellery today is RM4,105,099.89,” said Lo.
He said the weight of the gold jewelleries in the first report was 10.784kg, while the weight of the gold items in the second report was 153.77gm.
To a question, Lo said throughout his 36-year experience, he never came across an individual who has that much gold or gold worth that much.
He added that it was not common for an individual to have gold items as much and as expensive as that.
To a question on how he determined that all the items in his reports were genuine, he said it was by experience, colour, weight, design and stamp logo.
According to Lo, there were some jewellery items that could not be evaluated by them due to several factors, including white gold, gemstones, watches and some accessories.
Among the reasons and factors that made them unable to evaluate some jewellery were their inability to confirm the purity of white gold, the purity of gemstones and the purity of (branded) watches and some other accessories.
On trial were former State Water Director Ag Mohd Tahir Ag Mohd Talib, 58, and his wife Fauziah Piut, 55, who were jointly charged with former State Water Deputy Director Lim Lam Beng, 66, on 37 counts of money-laundering charges, involving cash and bank savings amounting to RM61.57 million, as well as unlawful possession of luxury goods.
They had, on Dec 29, 2016, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
During cross-examination, Ag Mohd Tahir and Fauziah’s counsel Priskila Akwila Sinem asked:
“In addition to evaluating the purity of gold, can you as an expert determine when the gold was made or purchased?
Witness: No
Counsel: Based on your expertise in gold valuation, can you determine whether the gold was bought before or after 2004?
Witness: No
Counsel: I put it to you that for all the items in your report, you do not know when the gold was bought or made?
Witness: Yes
To a suggestion by Priskila, Lo said the 10kg of gold was similar to a gold shop, so it was impossible for someone to buy 10kg of gold.
Lo explained at the re-examination by the prosecution that 10kg had more than 500 items.
“It’s not easy for one store to get more than 500 items, it’s rare to see a store like that,” said Lo, adding a normal gold store has around 5kg to 10kg.
To another question by Priskila: “Earlier in your answer, you said you could not determine the date the gold was bought or made. So, I put it to you that an individual can get gold by collecting gold over the years, through gifts or inheritance. Agree?
Witness: Inheritance, I disagree. By gift, I agree.
Counsel: Why don’t you agree if it goes through inheritance?
Witness: Through design, if it is an inheritance, the design is more than 25 years old.
Counsel: In the report you prepared, can you determine which one is an inheritance, which one is new and which one is a gift?
Witness: I do not know.
Together with DPP Lim was DPP Mahadi Abdul Jumaat.
Ag Tahir and his wife were also represented by counsel Mohamed Fareeez Mohamed Salleh, while Lim was represented by counsel Datuk Tan Hock Chuan, Baldev Singh and Karpaljit Singh, Kelvin Wong and Aaron Lau.
Trial is adjourned to Oct 25.
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