KUALA LUMPUR – The high court was told today that Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was the “boss” of Yayasan Akalbudi (YAB), with dominion over its properties.
Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Raja Rozela Raja Toran said the accused, a YAB trustee, had control of the foundation, and was entrusted in his capacity as a trustee with dominion of its properties when he dishonestly misappropriated millions of ringgit from YAB funds.
She gave the example of how Zahid controlled YAB with the appointment of two new trustees of his choice, namely Muhammad Nabil Saleh and Datuk Khairuddin Tarmizi.
The two replaced Samsuri Tun and Prof Dr Zulkifli Senteri, who resigned from the board of trustees on April 4, 2012.
“The vacated seats were promptly filled by two others who held positions in the Bagan Datuk Umno division, namely Nabil and Khairuddin.
“At first glance, their appointment as trustees might seem unremarkable. But if you take a closer look at their position, you will soon see one of them is his personal aide.
“They may be trustees. They were trustees just like him (Zahid), but the reality check here, My Lord, is that he is still the boss. It is not an exaggeration on my part to say that what the boss wants, the boss gets,” Raja Rozela said in her submission at the end of the prosecution’s case in Zahid’s corruption trial.
Raja Rozela also said that on April 4, 2012, Zahid was himself made the sole signatory for YAB’s bank account.
“It was his ‘reign’ that saw some 50 YAB cheques being issued and the withdrawal of funds from seven fixed deposit accounts. The accumulated sum was RM31,082,732.57,” she said.
Raja Rozela further submitted that the Umno president ought to have known that he was not legally entitled to use the property.
She said by making use of the funds for his own purposes knowing that he was not entitled to do so, the accused had acted with the dishonest intention of depriving YAB of its properties and securing the funds for his own gain.
Zahid, 68, is facing 47 charges – 12 for criminal breach of trust, eight for corruption, and 27 for money laundering – involving tens of millions of ringgit belonging to YAB.
The hearing of the submission before Justice Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues tomorrow. – Bernama, October 11, 2021
