'Claims on Bekir's wealth a political conspiracy'
Hafiz YatimPublished: Sep 2, 2014 6:23 AM | Updated: Sep 2, 2014 3:32 PM
Mahmud Abu Bekir Taib has alleged that all the claims of his supposedly mass wealth made in the divorce proceeding is a political conspiracy by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and others.
Mahmud Abu Bekir Taib has alleged that all the claims of his supposedly mass wealth made in his divorce proceedings is a political conspiracy by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and others.
The former Sarawak chief minister's son named whitstleblower website Sarawak Report founder Claire Rewcastle- Brown (right), Swiss-based NGO Bruno Manser Fund, his former wife Shahnaz Abdul Majid and her lawyers among those in a political conspiracy to attack him and his father Abdul Taib Mahmud, who is now Sarawak governor, over allegations of corrupt practices.
He also accused Canadian couple Cullen Johnson and Elaine White of being involved in the conspiracy by providing forged and false documents allegedly of Abu Bekir's assets.
"What was supposed to be a private matter in divorce maintenance claims before the courts was blown up into a global attack and slander to change the political landscape of Sarawak," Abu Bekir said.
“I am saddened that this hearing is hijacked and abused for political purposes to smear my name, my father's reputation and that of my family. All this is done to attack my father, who was then Sarawak chief minister and the state BN chief,” he added.
The witness was testifying during his examination-in-chief by his lawyer, Zainul Rijal Abu Bakar (left), during which the lawyer referred to several articles by PAS journal Harakah, dated between March 14 and 17, 2011, and March 18 and 20, 2011, which quoted the Sarawak Report.
Replying to Zainul Rijal, Abu Bekir said the reports claiming that the land plots he owns were given for free were all lies and false, and that he owned many Native Customary Rights (NCR) land plots were also incorrect.
“In fact, I do not even own such NCR land,” he told the Syariah High Court in Kuala Lumpur, adding that claims he obtained higher payments for projects, compared to other companies getting similar projects, were incorrect.
The fact is, Abu Bekir said, was that his company had to use its own funds and assets for a particular project, rather than depend wholly on funding from the state government.
Harakah published the reports before the Sarawak state election, which was held in April 2011.
Lawyer's family ties with Anwar raised
Abu Bekir, who was testifying from the witness box when listing down all the individuals he accused of committing political conspiracy against him and his father, also pointed to one of Shahnaz's lawyers, Rafie Mohd Shafie, and said, “You are also related to Anwar, as your son is his son-in-law.”
Rafie (left) objected to this attack on him and his family, saying they were not on trial.
Rafie also questioned Abu Bekir's conduct in testifying, for he seemed to be reading from a prepared statement.
To this, Abu Bekir handed the paper he was reading from and said that it was a draft of the press release that he intended to give to the media after the trial. He said he had to refer to it, as he may forget it and this may not be covered in the trial.
“I prepared the draft myself and it is typed by my secretary,” he said.
Despite objections from Shahnaz's lawyers, Kuala Lumpur Syariah High Court judge Muhamad Abdul Karim Wahab allowed Abu Bekir to read from the statement.
'My father declared his interests'
Abu Bekir said his father Abdul Taib Mahmud also declared his interests when projects or state government contracts involving his company are awarded.
“My father would declare his interests, leave the meeting and let the other state ministers or the deputy chief minister to chair the meeting to discuss awarding of the project. All these decisions are made without my father's presence,” he said.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy chief commissioner Mohd Shukri Abdull had admitted that Abu Bekir became rich from government deals, but it was difficult to prove abuse of power as Taib had declared his interests or left the meeting where decisions to award deals to Abu Bekir were made.
Abu Bekir also said that the civil servants in Sarawak were professionals who would negotiate the lowest price before deals were made.
He denied reports suggesting that he owns 70,000 hectares of land in Sarawak, and that some had to be sold off, but he admitted to owning a building in Ottawa, Canada, which he said he bought for RM7 million.
“I purchased the Ottawa property as this is a `stressed asset' ,where the owner of the building could not repay the bank loan and hence, I bought the property,” he said, adding that he once co-owned Sarawak Cable Bhd with Shahnaz, but later, when having financial difficulties, he sold his stake and bought it back and managed to get it listed on Bursa Malaysia.
'No 111 overseas bank accounts'
Abu Bekir also denied having 111 overseas bank accounts, adding that he does not have bank accounts in Switzerland, Hong Kong, Luxembourg and the Caribbean, as alleged by Shahnaz.
He told the court that he hired a private investigator to look into the claims and said Shahnaz had conspired with Cullen to make the allegations
“Cullen and his wife created the perception that I possess US$700 million in those 100 accounts. This is non-existent. None of the evidence had been produced in court,” Abu Bekir said.
Shahnaz's lawyer Akbardin Abdul Kader objected to this, saying they are not adducing such evidence in this trial as this would be produced in the other trial (on joint matrimonial assets claim of RM300 million).
Judge Muhamad Abdul Karim overruled the objection and allowed Abu Bekir to continue with his testimony.
When the mutaah trial was initially conducted before another judge, Shahnaz testified that her former husband had 111 bank accounts and listed some of them. However, the court then ordered a re-trial of the matter before another judge.
Abu Bekir said Cullen and his wife fabricated evidence on this and as a result, Cullen and his wife had been arrested by the American authorities and are now serving prison sentences for the false evidence and fabrication.
However, he said, the effect of such claims was detrimental as this was brought up in the Parliament of Switzerland, where the legislators asked whether he had accounts there.
“I do not have 111 accounts to the sum of RM2.2 billion as alleged. It is illogical. All this is to support the allegation that my father is corrupt, but he had served his state and country with honesty.
Abu Bekir said all these reports were published by pro-opposition portals in Sarawak report and also by Malaysiakini.
The hearing continues on Sept 8.
Related stories
'No, Taib Mahmud is not richest man in Malaysia'
Be fair in covering Bekir's mutaah case, reporters told
“I am saddened that this hearing is hijacked and abused for political purposes to smear my name, my father's reputation and that of my family. All this is done to attack my father, who was then Sarawak chief minister and the state BN chief,” he added.
The witness was testifying during his examination-in-chief by his lawyer, Zainul Rijal Abu Bakar (left), during which the lawyer referred to several articles by PAS journal Harakah, dated between March 14 and 17, 2011, and March 18 and 20, 2011, which quoted the Sarawak Report.Replying to Zainul Rijal, Abu Bekir said the reports claiming that the land plots he owns were given for free were all lies and false, and that he owned many Native Customary Rights (NCR) land plots were also incorrect.
“In fact, I do not even own such NCR land,” he told the Syariah High Court in Kuala Lumpur, adding that claims he obtained higher payments for projects, compared to other companies getting similar projects, were incorrect.
The fact is, Abu Bekir said, was that his company had to use its own funds and assets for a particular project, rather than depend wholly on funding from the state government.
Harakah published the reports before the Sarawak state election, which was held in April 2011.
Lawyer's family ties with Anwar raised
Abu Bekir, who was testifying from the witness box when listing down all the individuals he accused of committing political conspiracy against him and his father, also pointed to one of Shahnaz's lawyers, Rafie Mohd Shafie, and said, “You are also related to Anwar, as your son is his son-in-law.”
Rafie (left) objected to this attack on him and his family, saying they were not on trial.Rafie also questioned Abu Bekir's conduct in testifying, for he seemed to be reading from a prepared statement.
To this, Abu Bekir handed the paper he was reading from and said that it was a draft of the press release that he intended to give to the media after the trial. He said he had to refer to it, as he may forget it and this may not be covered in the trial.
“I prepared the draft myself and it is typed by my secretary,” he said.
Despite objections from Shahnaz's lawyers, Kuala Lumpur Syariah High Court judge Muhamad Abdul Karim Wahab allowed Abu Bekir to read from the statement.
'My father declared his interests'
Abu Bekir said his father Abdul Taib Mahmud also declared his interests when projects or state government contracts involving his company are awarded.
“My father would declare his interests, leave the meeting and let the other state ministers or the deputy chief minister to chair the meeting to discuss awarding of the project. All these decisions are made without my father's presence,” he said.Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy chief commissioner Mohd Shukri Abdull had admitted that Abu Bekir became rich from government deals, but it was difficult to prove abuse of power as Taib had declared his interests or left the meeting where decisions to award deals to Abu Bekir were made.
Abu Bekir also said that the civil servants in Sarawak were professionals who would negotiate the lowest price before deals were made.
He denied reports suggesting that he owns 70,000 hectares of land in Sarawak, and that some had to be sold off, but he admitted to owning a building in Ottawa, Canada, which he said he bought for RM7 million.
“I purchased the Ottawa property as this is a `stressed asset' ,where the owner of the building could not repay the bank loan and hence, I bought the property,” he said, adding that he once co-owned Sarawak Cable Bhd with Shahnaz, but later, when having financial difficulties, he sold his stake and bought it back and managed to get it listed on Bursa Malaysia.
'No 111 overseas bank accounts'
Abu Bekir also denied having 111 overseas bank accounts, adding that he does not have bank accounts in Switzerland, Hong Kong, Luxembourg and the Caribbean, as alleged by Shahnaz.
He told the court that he hired a private investigator to look into the claims and said Shahnaz had conspired with Cullen to make the allegations
“Cullen and his wife created the perception that I possess US$700 million in those 100 accounts. This is non-existent. None of the evidence had been produced in court,” Abu Bekir said.
Shahnaz's lawyer Akbardin Abdul Kader objected to this, saying they are not adducing such evidence in this trial as this would be produced in the other trial (on joint matrimonial assets claim of RM300 million).Judge Muhamad Abdul Karim overruled the objection and allowed Abu Bekir to continue with his testimony.
When the mutaah trial was initially conducted before another judge, Shahnaz testified that her former husband had 111 bank accounts and listed some of them. However, the court then ordered a re-trial of the matter before another judge.
Abu Bekir said Cullen and his wife fabricated evidence on this and as a result, Cullen and his wife had been arrested by the American authorities and are now serving prison sentences for the false evidence and fabrication.
However, he said, the effect of such claims was detrimental as this was brought up in the Parliament of Switzerland, where the legislators asked whether he had accounts there.
“I do not have 111 accounts to the sum of RM2.2 billion as alleged. It is illogical. All this is to support the allegation that my father is corrupt, but he had served his state and country with honesty.
Abu Bekir said all these reports were published by pro-opposition portals in Sarawak report and also by Malaysiakini.
The hearing continues on Sept 8.
Related stories
'No, Taib Mahmud is not richest man in Malaysia'
Be fair in covering Bekir's mutaah case, reporters told
View Comments0