Ku received over RM900k in commissions in Bukit Bintang properties sale, court told

KUALA LUMPUR: The Sessions Court was today told that former Kuala Lumpur Criminal Investigation Department (CID) chief Datuk Ku Chin Wah (pix) received commissions totalling RM931,500 from the sale of two properties in Jalan Bukit Bintang.

Former Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Khoo Ah See, 73, said Ku received the money as commissions for finding individuals who were willing to sell the properties, a hotel and an empty building, to a businessman.

In 2009, the businessman had asked Khoo if he knew anyone who wanted to sell buildings for commercial use at Jalan Bukit Bintang.

"Among the people I approached was Datuk Ku Chin Wah. In my opinion, he (Ku) an officer who was still in service may have known of someone," said Khoo who is also a real estate agent.

At that time Ku was an aide to the then Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Rahim Noor.
The seventh prosecution witness said this during examination in chief by DPP Budiman Lutfi Mohamed in the trial of Ku, 58, who allegedly failed to declare all earnings in a sworn written statement in January 2014.

Khoo said Ku then managed to get two individuals to sell the properties, a building worth RM5.5 million and a hotel named Fortuna worth RM98 million, both located in Bukit Bintang, to the businessman.

Overall Ku received commissions amounting to RM1,035,000 of which RM55,000 was from the building sale and RM980,000 from sale of the hotel.

As agreed, Ku later paid Khoo 10% of his commission which amounted to RM103,500, RM5,500 for the building and RM98,000 for Fortuna Hotel. All transactions were paid in cash.

However after giving 10% of the commission to Khoo, Ku only received RM931,500.

When cross-examined by lawyer Datuk Geethan Ram Vincent, Khoo who was also the last prosecution witness, agreed that the money received by Ku were neither bribes nor money gained from unlawful activities but were merely commissions.

Ku, currently serving at Bukit Aman CID's secretariat division, was charged with failing to comply with a notice under Section 49(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act dated Dec 23, 2013 when he failed to declare the source of earnings in a sworn statement dated Jan 8, 2014.

He allegedly committed the offence at the MACC headquarters, Block D6, Federal Government Administrative Centre, Putrajaya between Dec 23, 2013 and Jan 21, 2014.

Ku was charged under Section 49(3) of the same Act which carries a maximum fine of RM1 million, imprisonment not exceeding one year or both, if convicted.

Judge Sohaini Alias fixed Oct 13 Oct for submissions and clarification. — Bernama