RM6.5m price ‘too high’ for Khir’s house, says valuer

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, The Malaysian Insider

SHAH ALAM, Oct 31 — Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo’s palatial home and land do not cost RM6.5 million, the former Selangor Mentri Besar’s corruption trial was told today.

Professional valuer Iramy Ahmad, 48, testified that the market price for the mansion valued by his firm Irhamy & Co in 2005 was RM4.3 million.

“As a valuer, I feel that RM6.5 million is too high, it is not a reasonable price. The cost does not equal the value,” he told the court today.

He was asked by defence lawyer Datuk Jahabardeen Mohamed Yunoos whether he agreed that RM6.5 million was a “reasonable” price for the home as well as the plots of land.

Dr Mohamad Khir (picture) is alleged to have obtained for himself and his wife two lots of land and a house at No. 8 and 10, Jalan Suasa 7/1L from Ditamas Sdn Bhd through its director Shamsuddin Hayroni.

The property was purchased at RM3.5 million although Ditamas had bought it for RM6.5 million on December 23, 2004.

The transaction was alleged to have been made when Dr Mohamad Khir knew that Shamsuddin had ties with his official duty as the Selangor mentri besar then.

Dr Mohamad Khir, the state assemblyman for Sungai Panjang, is alleged to have committed the offence at the official residence of the Selangor mentri besar at Jalan Permata 7/1, Section 7 here on May 29, 2007.

Defence lawyers have previously pointed out that Shamsuddin had purchased the properties through his company above the market value of RM4.3 million that was estimated by valuer Irhamy & Co back in 2005.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar later said that Iramy’s testimony was just a “personal opinion” and that different variables could be used to assess the value of the mansion and land.

The trial resumes later this afternoon.