KUALA LUMPUR – The prosecution team in Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s money-laundering trial at the high court today described the case against the Umno president as similar to Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s SRC International Sdn Bhd case.
Deputy public prosecutor Harris Ong Mohd Jeffery Ong, in his submission, said this is because both accused failed to determine whether the money they allege were received as donations were from unlawful or illegal sources.
Harris also read out excerpts of the judgment in Najib’s case, where the former prime minister was found guilty of criminal breach of trust, abuse of position and money laundering involving RM42 million of SRC funds.
He highlighted high court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali’s ruling, which said that it was hard to believe that Najib did not know or have reasonable suspicion that the monies deposited into his accounts were proceeds of unlawful activity.
Harris said Zahid’s money-laundering charges also shared similar facts with Najib’s case, for instance, on the transfer of millions from Yayasan Akalbudi’s account to its trustee account, Messrs Lewis & Co.
The DPP said the accused also never complained about the manner money changer Omar Ali Abdullah converted RM7,511,250.20 into 35 cheques.
Yesterday, he submitted that Omar Ali, being the agent, received instruction from Zahid to convert RM7,511,250.20 into 35 cheques, which the accused subsequently handed over to Messrs Lewis & Co, a trustee of Yayasan Akalbudi, belonging to the former deputy prime minister.
Harris further said that Zahid has the power to manage and utilise the monies by way of purchase of shares and bungalows at Country Heights in Kajang, Selangor.
“My Lord, buying bungalows had nothing to do with charity, as claimed by the defence. There was no evidence to show that the money was spent for charitable purposes, except for the fact it was for the accused’s benefit,” he said in his submission to rebut the defence’s argument on 27 money-laundering charges before judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah.
On the involvement of law firms being used “to launder money”, the prosecutor said it is a serious issue but one that does not just happen here but everywhere in the world.
Harris said that the prosecution has adduced credible evidence on each essential ingredient of the money-laundering offences, which remain unshaken despite cross-examination.
“The evidence from direct, circumstantial and documentary evidence led in the trial warrants the accused to enter his defence on all charges of money laundering,” he said.
Zahid, 68, faces 47 charges; 12 for CBT, eight for corruption and 27 for money laundering involving tens of millions of ringgit belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi.
The prosecution will continue its submission on October 11. – Bernama, October 6, 2021
