KUALA LUMPUR – The high court today was told that one of the charges against former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi of alleged embezzlement of Yayasan Akalbudi’s (YAB) funds does not mention any sales agreement or purchase of a hotel in Bali, Indonesia.
Counsel Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, representing Zahid, said the matter is irrelevant, despite the prosecution’s claim that part of the RM17.9 million in funds was misused for a share purchase deal.
“As far as the charge is concerned, there is no mention of the sale of shares from Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Manaf (83rd prosecution witness), no mention of Ri-Yaz Assets (Ri-Yaz Assets Sdn Bhd), no mention of Datuk Mohammad Shaheen Shah Mohd Sidek (84th prosecution witness), no mention of the purchase of the hotel in Bali, and no mention of the sales agreement (shares).
“Such fundamental circumstance, as all the evidence adduced by Rashid and Shaheen, are totally irrelevant to the charge.”
Hisyam said this in his submission in the case against Zahid, who faces 47 charges of criminal breach of trust (CBT), corruption and money laundering involving YAB funds.
“This narrative produced by the prosecution, the evidence (produced by the prosecution) is irrelevant. Nothing else beyond the four corners of the charge,” he said.
Last week, the prosecution told the court that the withdrawal of RM17.9 million from YAB funds by Zahid was, among others, to facilitate his daughter’s bid to buy a boutique hotel in Bali.
Zahid’s eldest daughter, Datuk Nurulhidayah, was interested in taking over the shares of Ri-Yaz Assets and running the hotel in Bali.
The hearing before judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues on November 22, after Zahid returns from Munich, Germany, where he is seeking medical treatment. – Bernama, October 20, 2021
