Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s younger brother brought two properties worth RM5.9 million using monies purportedly from Yayasan Akalbudi, the High Court was told today.
Property tycoon, Tan Sri Lee Kim Tiong @ Lee Kim Yew, who was the 57th prosecution witness said he sold two properties at Country Heights in Kajang to Datuk Seri Mohamad Nasaee Ahmad Tarmizi who was Zahid’s brother as a representative for Yayasan Al-Falah three years ago.
Lee said the sale of the two Country Heights homes, which bore the lot numbers 356 and 403, started when he was contacted in December 2016 by one “Datuk Eric”, whom he knew through his son.
This “Datuk Eric” later told him that Yayasan Al-Falah wished to make the purchase, he said.
After agreeing to sell both homes for a combined price of RM5,907,750 or approximately RM150 per square foot to Yayasan Al-Falah, Lee confirmed in court today that he had agreed to round down the price to RM5.9 million (Lot 356 for RM3 million and Lot 403 for RM2.9 million) for ease of calculations and because the houses were old.
The sales and purchase (SNP) agreement between both parties was inked on Jan 16, 2017.
“The agreement (SNP) was signed by Nik Hassan Nik Mohd Amin and me as directors for Bee Garden Holdings Sdn Bhd and Nasaee as the Foundation’s board of trustee,” Lee said when reading his witness statement.
Lee who acknowledged he personally knew Zahid for a long time, said the properties were in bad condition as it used to be a ‘showhouse’ for the development in Country Heights in Kajang.
“That is why I decided to sell the houses below market price,” he said, adding that both cheques were issued by a law firm Lewis & Co, the trustee for Yayasan Akalbudi, from which Zahid is accused of having misappropriated funds.
Lee concurred with Zahid’s lawyer Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Zainal that the houses had a rough value of RM200 per square foot in 2017 when they were sold to Yayasan Al-Falah. He added that the current market price of Country Heights properties would be between RM150 and RM250 per square foot.
Deputy public prosecutor Harris Ong Mohd Jeffery Ong during his examination-in-chief questioned Lee whether he knew the houses were meant for religious purposes.
The 66-year-old witness said he did not know that.
Harris: Do you know they were to be converted to a religious school?
Witness: I didn’t know, but I knew they wanted to buy the houses as they were near the surau.
On Oct 19 and Dec 14, 2018 and Dec 20, last year, Zahid, 67, 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.
As Lee left the courtroom, Zahid was seen giving him the thumbs-up gesture.
The trial before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues.
Earlier reports:
Jun 15, Zahid’s Trial: RM25M Banked into Proxy’s Account
Mar 6, Zahid’s Trial: Cheques Issued Meant for Moneychanger Ended up in Proxy Account
Mar 3, Zahid’s Trial: RM99M Worth of Cheques Went into Foundation’s Trustee Account
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