Ahmad Zahid did not benefit from RM250,000 loan took up by his brother

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here was told that Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi did not benefit from the RM250,000 loan his younger brother, Datuk Seri Mohamad Nasaee Ahmad Tarmizi took from a textile wholesaler.

Lead counsel Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, who represented Ahmad Zahid, said this was because Mohamad Nasaee had paid the said amount to a law firm, Messrs Lewis Co.

The lawyer said textile wholesaler Junaith Asharab, who is also the 36th prosecution witness had testified that Mohamad Nasaee personally wrote down, law firm, Messrs Lewis Co to be the payee.

“According to Junaith, the cheque then cleared into Lewis Co client’s account on July 15, 2016,” he said adding that, Mohamad Nasaee was never called by the prosecution to explain about the issue (why sum was made payable to the firm).

“There is no iota of evidence that the accused was aware of this and a party of the loan transaction. The accused did not receive the alleged gratification and there is absolutely no basis to say it was an inducement,” he said in his submission at the end of the prosecution's case before judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah.

Hisyam said, in fact, during cross examination, Junaith reiterated that the loan had nothing to do with the accused.

Therefore, he insisted that, the corruption charge against his client was completely baseless and groundless.

Earlier, Judge Sequerah allowed Ahmad Zahid’s application to cut short today’s proceedings at 11 am as the accused needs to attend parliament proceedings at 12 pm.

The Bagan Datuk MP’s lawyer Hamidi Mohd Nor informed the court that his client received a letter from the secretary of Dewan Rakyat yesterday evening, hence, he requested, today’s proceedings to be adjourned at 11 am.

Judge Sequerah then allowed Ahmad Zahid’s application for shorter proceedings as the prosecution did not raise objection over the matter.

Ahmad Zahid, 68, is facing 47 charges - 12 for CBT, eight for corruption and 27 for money laundering - involving tens of millions of ringgit belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi.

As for the 26th money laundering charge, Ahmad Zahid is accused of having committed the offence by allegedly being engaged directly in a transaction involving proceeds from a lawful activity by giving instruction for the purchase of the two property lots using a RM5.9 million cheque issued by law firm Messrs Lewis Co.

The defence will continue its submission tomorrow.

-- BERNAMA