More than RM25 million was deposited into the proxy account of Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi by several entities since 2016, witnesses revealed in the High Court today.
Ten bank officers who took the stand in Ahmad Zahid’s RM6 million graft trial today said the cheques were issued by their clients to the law firm Lewis & Co., the trustee for Yayasan Akalbudi, from which Zahid is accused of having misappropriated funds.
The 10 are – Mar Sai Chin, 49; Lina Zailan, 32; Yusri Md Kasri, 49; Lau Ai Mai, 46; Suzaliza Kamari, 44; Sharifah Shifah Syed Zainol, 56; Mohd Zulkarnain Ab Latiff, 40; G Jayachantran, 42; Au Lai Ban, 51; and Wong Shiau Phing, 44.
All of them, when testifying from the witness stand, said the transactions from their clients’ accounts to Lewis & Co.’s account were legitimate and followed all their respective bank’s standard operating procedures (SOPs).
When asked by deputy public prosecutor Harris Ong Mohd Jeffery Ong if they knew why the cheques had been made out to law firm Lewis & Co, most of them said they had no knowledge of this.
The High Court heard that 40 transactions, mostly via cheques and bank drafts worth RM25,952,770 bearing the payee name Lewis & Co, were issued between March 2016 and March 2018.
The cheques were issued by several individuals and companies such as Cergas Murni Sdn Bhd, HRA Teguh Sdn Bhd, MYEG Sdn Bhd, Chia Bee Enterprise Sdn Bhd, and KG Rajan Gunaretnam.
On Oct 19 and Dec 14, 2018 and Dec 20, last year, Ahmad 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.
The trial before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues tomorrow. – NST
Earlier reports:
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