The High Court today was told that Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had allowed his signature stamp to be used on Yayasan Akalbudi cheques to pay for his credit card bills.
Ahmad Zahid’s former executive secretary Major Mazlina Mazlan @ Ramly said she started using the signature stamp on Yayasan Akalbudi cheques in 2014 upon receiving permission from the former deputy prime minister.
“It is due to Datuk Seri’s (Ahmad Zahid) busy schedule…I often received the credit card statements after the due date and was afraid the late payment would result in the cards being barred causing inconvenience to them, especially when they were abroad.
“Therefore, I asked for Datuk Seri’s permission to use the stamp. He agreed and said okay…I did not use his personal cheques as there was no directive from him for me to do so,” she said.
The 90th prosecution witness said this when reading her witness statement at Ahmad Zahid’s trial on charges of corruption, criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving millions of ringgit in funds from Yayasan Akalbudi.
Mazlina said she had never used the stamp for her personal interests.
“The last time I used the Yayasan Akalbudi cheques to pay the credit card bills was in 2016.
“As far as I can remember, Datuk Seri had instructed me not to use the cheques to pay for his credit card bills because the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission had begun an investigation into the matter. I did not ask further. I was asked to pay the credit card in cash,” she added.
Previously, the 31st prosecution witness Siti Nur Musliha Mohamad Noor, a chemist from the Chemistry Department had told the court that 16 cheques belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi that were issued to make several payments, including for the personal use of Ahmad Zahid had the signature of the accused.
Mazlina, 42, also said that the UMNO president had also allowed her to use Yayasan Akalbudi cheques for other purposes such as paying his vehicles insurance and road tax.
“Each time I wanted to get his signature on the cheques, I would bring along the credit card statements for Datuk Seri’s reference,” she said, adding that being meticulous, Ahmad Zahid would check and ensure that everything was in order before signing.
Mazlina said Ahmad Zahid would affix his signature using his own pen which usually in black ink.
“All the cheques that I prepared to pay for the credit card bills were not pre-signed by Datuk Seri,” she said.
She said Ahmad Zahid had also directed her to prepare cheques for TS Consultancy & Resources, PDRM Football Association and Armada Holdings Sdn Bhd.
Ahmad Zahid, 67, is facing 47 charges, with 12 of them involving criminal breach of trust, eight for corruption and 27 for money laundering involving tens of millions of ringgit in funds belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi.
Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Raja Rozela Raja Toran leads the prosecution team while Ahmad Zahid is represented by lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik.
The trial before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues.
Earlier reports:
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