Former spy chief's CBT trial: MACC received complaints of misappropriation of govt funds by MEIO officers
06/10/2020 11:01 PM
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 -- The High Court here was told today that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had received complaints of several officers from the Research Division of the Prime Minister's Department (JPM) misappropriating funds amounting to millions of ringgit that belonged to the Malaysian government.
MACC Assistant Superintendent Muhammad Nizhar Kadi said the money was in several bags and kept at several locations.
Acting on the complaints, he said, the MACC conducted an operation, known as “Ops Dinar 2” to probe into the matter.
He said the commission raided several houses in Cyberjaya and Putrajaya and arrested a few suspects, but no money or documents were found.
“At about 12.15 am on Aug 30, 2018, my team and I were instructed to arrest a suspect by the name of Datuk Salahudin Yaakob at Klia2.
“At 1 am, we left for Shaftsbury Residence, Cyberjaya , for a search. A total of US $ 4.07 million was confiscated from the residence,” said Muhammad Nizhar, who is the first prosecution witness when reading out his witness statement during examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Iskandar Ahmad on the first day of Datuk Hasanah Abdul Hamid’s trial for criminal breach of trust involving US $ 2.1 million (RM50.4 million).
Hasanah was then the director-general of the Malaysian External Intelligence Organisation (MEIO).
Muhammad Nizhar said at about 11 am on the same day, the second seizure was made, involving RM220,000 in Terengganu.
He said the money was seized from the home of the parents of another suspect, known as Maliki.
“Maliki counted the money himself with me witnessing it,” he added.
Meanwhile, third prosecution witness, Administrative and Diplomatic Officer at the Public Service Commission, Norhisham Md Nordin, 40, said Hasanah did not hand over the notes of her duties and desk file when her contract as the director-general of the Research Division expired.
“Hasanah's service contract for the post expired on June 30, 2018 and she did not provide both documents (handing over notes and desk file).
“According to Service Circular No. 3 of 2004 and a letter from the Public Service Department dated July 19, 1985, any government officer who changes post or retires, is required to prepare the notes on handing over of duty, as well as the desk file, to to the successor,” he said when reading out his witness statement during examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Muhamad Ashraf Md Kamal.
According to Norhisham, the handing over of duty notes is also required in the process of transfer, promotion or termination of service of government officers.
Norhisham, who was a special officer at the Research Division, said the matter arose after his former employer, the then director-general of the division, Datuk Ahmad Shublee Othman, instructed him to get the notes and desk file from Hasanah.
He told the court that Ahmad Shublee was appointed as director-general of the Research Division on July 8, 2018 to replace Hasanah, whose contract expired on June 30, 2018.
From between July 1 and 7, 2018, the post of the director-general of Research Division was not filled because no appointment was made by the office of the Chief Secretary to the Government, he added.
On Oct 25, 2018, Hasanah, 62, pleaded not guilty to a charge of committing CBT amounting to US$12.1 (RM50.4 million) in funds belonging to the government when serving as the director-general of the Prime Minister’s Department Research Division.
She was charged with committing the offence at the office of the Research Division in the Prime Minister’s Department (JPM) in Putrajaya between April 30 to May 9 2018.
The woman was charged under Section 409 of the Penal Code which provides for a maximum of 20 years jail and whipping as well as fine if found guilty.
The hearing before Judicial Commissioner Datuk Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh continues on Thursday.
-- BERNAMA
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