Cheques worth over RM99 million had gone into the account of charity foundation Yayasan Akalbudi’s trustee, law firm Messrs Lewis & Co, the High Court was told.
This was revealed by Maybank bank manager Leong Siew Kong, 56, when he was asked to verify the cheques that were issued between 2016 and 2018 in 129 transactions.
Leong was testifying as the 39th witness in the criminal trial of Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi involving millions of ringgit of funds from the foundation.
Yayasan Akalbudi which was established in 1997 was founded by Zahid.
Asked by deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Sazilee Abdul Khairi whether the transactions had ever triggered a red flag on suspicion under the Anti-Money Laundering Act (Amla), the witness said it did not.
“For lawyers’ accounts, especially clients’ accounts, it will not trigger (red flag) because it is the trustee for customers.
“Usually it will not trigger as it is normal,” the witness said.
The trial continues before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah on Friday.
On Oct 19 and Dec 14, 2018 and Feb 20, last year, Zahid pleaded not guilty to a total of 47 charges, 12 of which are for criminal breach of trust (CBT), eight for bribery and 27 for money-laundering involving tens of millions of ringgit belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi. – NST
Earlier reports:
Feb 20, Zahid’s Trial: Businessman Insists RM2 Million Donations to Zahid, Not Bribery for Contracts
Feb 19, Zahid’s Trial: Alleged RM6M Political Donation
Feb 15, Zahid’s Trial: Zahid Directed That Datasonics Passport Chips to Be Used
Feb 13, Zahid’s Trial: Under-Performing Firm Allowed to Resupply Passport Chips
Feb 12, Zahid’s Trial: Foundation Never Audited Its Accounts or Filed Financial Reports with SSM
Feb 11, Zahid’s Trial: Former DPM Signed 51 Foundation Cheques Worth RM31M
Dec 13, Zahid’s Trial: Earned RM44,383 a Month as DPM
Dec 12, Zahid’s Trial: RM360K All Went Towards Voter Registration, Not to Print Quran
Dec 10, Zahid’s Trial: Firm Received RM360K from Zahid’s Charity Body for Voter Registration
Dec 10, Zahid’s Trial: Insurance, Road Tax for His 20 Vehicles Paid with Foundation Funds
Dec 5, Zahid’s Trial: 39 Insurance Policies Totalling RM72K for 20 Vehicles
Dec 3, Zahid’s Trial: Couple Owns 18 Luxury Vehicles
Dec 2, Zahid’s Trial: Wife’s Credit Cards Used for LV, Harrods, Armani, RM250K Spending Limit
Nov 21, Zahid’s Trial: Day Four
Nov 21, Zahid’s Trial: Day Three
Nov 20, Schoomate: I Signed Blank Cheques on Zahid’s Order,
Nov 19, Zahid’s Trial: Day Two
Nov 18, Zahid Embezzled RM31M Meant for the Poor
