More to be charged in connection with the scandal

KOTA KINABALU: More people are expected to be charged in connection with the Sabah “Watergate” scandal, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC) deputy commissioner for operations Datuk Azam Baki said.

He said that although three people have been charged, investigations were still ongoing and they were also in discussion with the Attorney-General’s office over more people to be charged in connection with the scandal.

He would not elaborate on the number of people recommended to be charged in connection with their investigations into alleged abuse of power, widespread corruption and money laundering uncovered in the Sabah Water Department, but said it was up to the public prosecutor to decide.

He told reporters outside the courthouse that the charging of the three yesterday was related to their investigations involving large amounts of cash, jewellery and property.

“Now, we are looking at other aspects involved in corrupt practices,” he said in urging people not to speculate and to be patient as it involves a tedious probe and sifting through thousands of documents related to water contracts.

He said they were also looking at various maintenance contracts of the department.

Asked if any prominent people or politicians were under the scope of investigations, Azam said the investigations did not involve any VIPs.

“We are getting a lot of cooperation from the state government and working with it to tighten procedures involving contracts among others,” he added.

Former Sabah Water Department director Ag Mohd Tahir Ag Mohd Talib and his deputy were the first to be arrested on Oct 4, in investigations that saw the arrest of 53 people with statements recorded from about 200 witnesses.

Investigators told reporters last month that they were poring through tens of thousands of documents and analysing over 8,000 payment vouchers between 2008 and 2016.

The state government has suspended both the Ag Mohd Tahir and his deputy while some 15 water department engineers allegedly implicated have been transferred.