Prosecution witness says purchase of 2 bungalows in Country Heights also had no documentation

by RAHIMI YUNUS / pic by BERNAMA

A WITNESS in Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s (picture) graft trial testified that RM17.9 million was withdrawn from Yayasan Akalbudi without the approval of the board.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigating officer Muhammad Fazli Zulkifli told the Kuala Lumpur High Court that the withdrawal was done from the foundation’s Affin Bank Bhd account to Lewis & Co’s Malayan Banking Bhd account under the instruction of Ahmad Zahid.

Lewis & Co is identified as the trustee for Yayasan Akalbudi.

The 93rd prosecution witness said the withdrawal is considered as a breach of trust due to the absence of the board’s approval.

Meanwhile, 94th prosecution witness, MACC investigating officer Mohd Tharuzi Mohd Nor testified that he found it strange that Yayasan Al-Falah, a charitable foundation belonging to the younger brother of Ahmad Zahid, was only managed by three people.

He said there were only three members on the board of trustees and no other names listed under the foundation.

The three members were Ahmad Zahid’s brother Datuk Seri Mohamad Nasaee Ahmad Tarmizi, lawyer Faisalludin Mohamat Yusuff and Mohd Farid Abdullah.

“Managing a foundation with only three people is rather weird. Besides the three, there were no other members (in the foundation),” he said during re-examination by deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Sazilee Abdul Khairi yesterday.

Earlier, the witness also said the purchase of two bungalows at Country Heights in Kajang, Selangor, by Yayasan Akalbudi had no documentation and that was odd.

He also said there were also no documents or transactions of any donations made by Yayasan Akalbudi to Yayasan Al-Falah on the purchase of the bungalows.

Mohd Tharuzi also testified that there were no documents in relation to the purchase of the bungalow lots, or that the units were being paid for using funds from Yayasan Akalbudi.

He said there were also no documents or transactions of any donations made to Yayasan Al-Falah from Yayasan Akalbudi on the purchase of the bungalows which he found strange.

Mohd Tharuzi produced a flow chart in court yesterday, explaining that a RM5.9 million used to pay for the bungalow originated from a total of RM7 million parked under Lewis & Co.

The RM7 million funds were received from two main sources.

Ahmad Zahid faces 47 charges, 12 of them for criminal breach of trust, eight for corruption and 27 for money laundering involving tens of millions of ringgit of funds from Yayasan Akalbudi.

The trial continues.