KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic) received RM1mil from Profound Radiance Sdn Bhd in January 2018 allegedly as political donation, the High Court heard.
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The RM1mil was paid to the law firm Lewis and Co, trustee to the former deputy prime minister’s charity foundation, Yayasan Akalbudi, on Jan 3,2018.
This was confirmed by prosecution witness Maybank officer Harryade Mohamad Arbe, 46, during Ahmad Zahid’s trial for money laundering and criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving millions in funds from Yayasan Akalbudi
Under cross-examination from defence counsel Hisyam Teh Pok Teik, Harryade confirmed that the foreign visa-processing firm Profound Radiance had written on the cheque that the money was meant as a political donation.
Hisyam: Can you read what was written at the back of the cheque?
Harryade: It says ‘political fund to TPM’ here. (TPM being the initials of timbalan perdana menteri, the deputy prime minister in Malay).
Hisyam: Although it says ‘political fund to TPM’ but payable to Lewis and Co?
Harryade: Yes, agree.
The 26th prosecution witness also confirmed that Profound Radiance had issued two other cheques to the law firm – one worth RM300,000 on July 31,2017, and the other worth RM700,000 on Feb 9,2018.
These two cheques were marked as “charity”, Harryade confirmed.
Ahmad Zahid is facing 47 charges in total – 27 for money laundering, 12 for criminal breach of trust and eight for bribery, with several of the bribery charges being linked to Profound Radiance.
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The court also heard that Armada Holdings Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Wasi Khan @ Wasiyu Zamar Israr Ahmad could not be sure whether the RM10mil given to Armada Holdings was a loan or an investment from Yayasan Akalbudi.
The 21st prosecution witness said this under re-examination by Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Raja Rozela Raja Toran.
Raja Rozela: When suggested by the defence that the RM10mil given to Armada Holdings was an investment from Yayasan Akalbudi, you disagreed. Can you explain your answer?
Wasi: If the RM10mil has to be returned, then it could be an investment or could not be an investment. Because it has to be returned.
(The RM10mil cheque was issued by Yayasan Akalbudi to Armada Holdings on Nov 16,2015).
The court had heard before that Wasi, 50, was introduced to Ahmad Zahid through Datuk Seri Khalid Mohamad Jiwa – husband to famous songstress Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza.
There was a light moment in court yesterday when DPP Raja Rozela asked Wasi whether he qualified for an “investment” from the charity foundation.
Raja Rozela: Can you read paragraph three of the charity foundation’s memorandum of association?
(This among others said that the foundation was set up to receive and administer funds for the eradication of poverty).
In other words, it was set up to help the poor. After reading that, do you feel that you are considered to be one of the poor (golongan miskin)? -The Star