A British investor told the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court that his company was only provided with two invoices as proof of the existence of his RM5.02 million investment with controversial firm Doxport Technologies (M) Sdn Bhd.

Riyadh Ahmed Ramzan, 47, told the court he had, through his Malaysian company Fiscal City Capital Sdn Bhd (FCC) which had 60 British investors, purchased six units of telephone switches, each costing US$340,000, between 2008 and 2009.

The two invoices for US$30,000 and US$15,000 were allegedly issued by SingTel to Doxport were dated January and June 2009 respectively, he said.

The company was told of the importance of confidentiality in the deal when it pursued proof of such investment following the deal, he said.

“We would not want our contract being terminated for whatever reason,” he said to a question asked by deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Ilhami Ahmad.

During the examination-in-chief, the witness has told the court that seven payments were made to purchase the telco switches, and his company had been shown the “proof” of the progress of the investment.

Doxport managing director T Sivalingam is charged with nine counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT), money-laundering and using a forged document as a true document.

Doxport, linked to former Umno treasurer Abdul Azim Mohd Zabidi, entered the spotlight when British investors filed a civil suit and lodged a police report.

During cross-examination by Chethan Jethwani, the first prosecution witness admitted the actual price of the six switches could be lower as the RM5.02 million deal consisted of acquisition and implementation.

Riyadh also admitted that the formal contract between both companies had only been signed in 2009, but the initial acquisition was guided by a “term sheet”.

Chethan brought to the court’s attention that the charge sheet in the trial stated that the accused has committed criminal breach of trust by disposing of RM5.02 million of British investment, which violated “a legitimate contract”, but in fact both parties were only bound by a term sheet back then.

Sivalingam, as a director of Doxport, allegedly committed the offence between July and October 2008, at the company’s office in Petaling Jaya.

He also faces seven charges of money-laundering amounting to RM4.357 million, and also another charge of using a forged document as a true document, that is a ‘General Invoice Voip System and Implementation’ costing US$1.8 million allegedly owned by Nikabina IT Sdn Bhd.

The court postponed the hearing to Jan 19 after the defence claimed some 100 copies of emails and documents had newly emerged, and requested an adjournment.

“My only concern is that the witness is from the UK, the expenses borne by the government are quite high,” responded judge Azhaniz Teh Azman Teh, before allowing the request.

Meanwhile, the Kuala Lumpur High Court also fixed Jan 19 to 21 to hear the RM12 million suit brought by FCC against Doxport for cheating, deceit and forging documents in the purchase of six telecommunication switches.