A non-executive director of MyEG Service Sdn Bhd told the High Court today he contributed a total of RM9 million to the construction of two mosques via a foundation of which Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is a trustee.
Mohd Jimmy Wong Abdullah, who testified as the 78th prosecution witness in the former deputy prime minister’s corruption, criminal breach of trust and money-laundering trial, said he had contributed RM600,000 in 15 tranches in the form of banker’s cheques from May 2016 until May 2018 for the mosques’ construction.
“Zahid had approached me and asked whether I wanted to contribute for the construction of mosques in Melaka and his private residence in Country Heights, Kajang. I then replied in the affirmative.
“He then told me to deposit the money directly into the account of legal firm Lewis & Co which managed the foundation,” he said in his witness statement.
Wong earlier recalled that Zahid had invited him to a thanksgiving ceremony at his private residence in late 2015 and asked whether he sought “pahala berkekalan” (unending reward) for performing good deeds.
“I replied that I could chip in and anything less than RM10 million was affordable for me.
“Zahid then said the money could be channelled to a foundation he owned but did not name at that time for the aforementioned mosque building purpose,” he said.
However, Wong disclosed that he opted to contribute by way of instalments based on commission received from employers’ recruitment of undocumented migrants during the government’s legalisation programme.
“However, this did not involve MyEG, including the payment of commission, as this was my side job outside of MyEG.
“The RM500 paid to me by employers for each undocumented migrant would then be deposited into the account of Kiosk Solution Sdn Bhd owned by a friend of mine by the name of Jimmy Ng.
Ng would then transfer the money to MyEG’s chief financial officer, Chong Chien Ming, who in turn would channel it to the legal firm.
“I however did inform MyEG’s chief finance officer Chong Chien Ming that I would be making an ‘advance’ of RM10 million. I also told him the ‘advance’ which I have obtained will be paid in full through Kiosk Solution,” he said.
Earlier, Wong also verified the documentation of all 15 banker’s cheques when they were tendered in court.
Wong also said he would contact Zahid each time he obtained a banker’s cheque and would visit the latter’s home to hand over the contribution.
“Each time after receiving the cheques, Zahid would perform an ‘akad’ (promise) as a sign of acceptance of my contribution for the purpose of building mosques,” he said.
In this trial, Zahid is facing 47 charges, namely 12 counts of criminal breach of trust in relation to charitable organisation Yayasan Akalbudi’s funds, 27 counts of money-laundering, and eight counts of bribery charges.
In the money-laundering charges, Zahid is accused of ordering the transferring of millions of ringgit in alleged illegal funds into fixed deposits via law firm Lewis & Co’s clients’ account. A clients’ account is typically where law firms hold money as a trustee or on trust for their clients.
The hearing before High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah resumes July 28. – MMO
Earlier reports:
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