A sum of RM1.7 million was paid to businessman Shamsubahrin Ismail, who is charged with cheating former director of National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) Mohamad Salleh Ismail.

First prosecution witness, investigating officer ASP Mohd Nor Hasnimaizam Othman, 36, told a sessions court in Kuala Lumpur today that NFC finance manager Hasimah Ahmad had informed him of the matter via telephone on Dec 16, 2011.

"Hasimah also informed me that the RM1.7 million payment was purportedly for the investigating officer involved in the NFC case," Hasnimaizam said in reply to Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) prosecution unit, chief Abdul Razak Musa.

He said Supt Ravindan Singh Sarban Singh and ASP Nordin Md Nor were the two other officers involved in the case, apart from him.

Hasnimaizam said Hasimah was one of the witnesses in an ongoing embezzlement investigation on a NFC subsidiary sales manager.

He said during a recorded conversation on Dec 5, 2011, Hasimah informed him that she had received a phone call from the bank regarding the payment to Shamsubahrin.

Hasnimaizam said he did not receive the money from Shamsubahrin.

Shamsubahrin, 46, is charged with five counts of cheating Mohamad Salleh into agreeing to pay him (Shamsubahrin) a fee, at a restaurant in Bukit Tunku in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 20 last year, in return for an advisory and consulting service.

17 counts of money laundering as well

He also faces 17 counts of money laundering amounting to RM1.755 million. Both the cases are being tried together.

Meanwhile, second witness, Bukit Aman Commercial Crimes Investigation Department (CCID), deputy director I DCP Tajuddin Md Isa told the court that the two other investigating officers did not receive the money as well.

He said on Dec 21, 2011, Hasnimaizam informed him that a sum of money had been given by an NFC officer to the CCID investigating officer on the case.

"So I asked Hasnimaizam and the two other officers if they had received the money from NFC.

"All three officers denied receiving the money and I advised ASP Mohd Nor Hasnimaizam to lodge a report on the matter," Tajuddin said.

Earlier in the proceedings, presiding judge Rozilah Salleh rejected an application from the defence to postpone the trial pending a High Court decision on an application to set aside and strike out the charges against Shamsubahrin.

The hearing resumes tomorrow.

- Bernama