The Kuala Lumpur High Court today heard that almost RM1.5 million of Yayasan Akalbudi funds were used by Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to pay for his credit cards, vehicle insurance policies and road tax for 20 vehicles belonging to his family.
This was revealed by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigating officer Khairuddin Kilau, 44, in the former deputy prime minister’s trial involving the misappropriation of funds from the charity foundation.
The 99th prosecution witness said based on investigations, he found that Zahid had used the money to pay for nine credit cards belonging to him and his wife Datin Seri Hamidah Khamis.
This included RM1,362,037.81 and another RM107,509.55 used to make payments for vehicle insurance policies and road tax for 20 vehicles.
Eighteen of the vehicles comprised luxury brand cars and high-powered motorcycles, among others, a BMW X5, a Mini Cooper S, an Audi Q7, a Toyota Land Cruiser and a BMW R1200 GS motorcycle.
Khairuddin said Zahid had used RM1,296,715.98 of Yayasan Akalbudi funds to pay for his AmBank Islamic credit card, RM34,686.03 for his Maybank card and RM30,635.80 for his American Express card.
“There were also AmBank Islamic and Maybank supplementary credit cards under Hamidah Khamis’ name.
“Based on my investigations, I found that there were many transactions done outside of the country and there were also payments using Yayasan Akalbudi funds via the foundation’s Affin Bank Bhd cheques between 2014 and 2016,” he said under examination in chief by deputy public prosecutor Lee Keng Fatt.
Khairuddin who is the final prosecution witness will continue to testify when the trial continues before High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah next Thursday.
Zahid, 68, is facing 47 charges, 12 of them for criminal breach of trust (CBT), eight for corruption and 27 for money laundering involving tens of millions of ringgit of funds from Yayasan Akalbudi. – NST
Earlier reports:
Mar 11, Zahid’s trial: Singaporean businessman asked to donate RM10m in first meeting with Zahid
Mar 9, Zahid’s trial: No receipts to show charity donated RM7.5 million
Mar 8, Zahid trial: RM17.9m withdrawn from Yayasan Akalbudi without board consent
Aug 28, Zahid’s Trial: Witness Admits Negligence in Handling Zahid’s Cheques
Aug 25, Zahid’s Trial Allowed Use of Signature Stamp on Yayasan Akalbudi Cheques
Aug 24, Zahid’s Trial: Lewis & Cp Never Appointed as Yayasan Al-Falah Trustee
Aug 14, Zahid’s Trial: Lewis & Co Never Appointed as Yayasan Al-Falah Trustee
Aug 12, Zahid’s Trial: 92 Cheques Worth RM76M from Zahid to Law Firm
Aug 11, Zahid’s Trial: Legal Firm Not Trustee of Yayasan Akalbudi
Aug 10, Zahid Pleads Not Guilty to Amended Charges in Graft Trial
Jul 30, Zahid’s Trial: Law Firm Placed RM66.6M in Fixed Deposits, Yayasan Akalbudi Not a Client
Jul 29, Zahid’s Trial: Moneychanger Omar Ali Insists Zahid Ordered Millions in Cash Converted into Cheques
Jul 28, Zahid’s Trial: Zahid’s Daughter Said Father Had Funds for Her Takeover of Company’s Share
Jul 27, Zahid’s Trial: Businessman Donated RM6.6M to Yayasan Akalbudi to Secure Project
Jul 14, Zahid’s Trial: MyEG Director Gave RM9M to Zahid’s Foundation
Jul 3, Zahid’s Trial: More than RM1 Million in Cheques Issued to Yayasan Akalbudi Trustee
Jun 18, Zahid’s Trial: Contractor Says Zahid Paid Him RM1.4M Cash, No Records
Jun 17, Zahid’s Trial: After RM1.3M Blank Cheque Revelations, Witnesses Put Blame on Omar Ali
Jun 17, Zahid’s Trial: Wife Signed Blank Cheque Book for Moneychanger Husband’s Use
Jun 17, Zahid’s Trial: Contractor Tells Court of Dealings with Zahid’s Proxy
Jun 17, Zahid’s Trial: Brother Cited Zahid as Having Paid RM5.9M for Country Heights Bungalows
Jun 16, Zahid’s Trial Brother Bought 2 Properties Worth RM5.9M Using Foundation Money
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