Court hears of Zahid and wife's RM1.4m credit card spending
ZAHID TRIAL | Former deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his spouse’s credit card spending had exceeded RM1.4 million over a period of two years and two months, the Kuala Lumpur High Court heard today.
This was disclosed by Ambank senior vice-president (credit card authorisation and fraud control) Yeoh Eng Leong, as the hearing on Zahid’s alleged criminal breach of trust enters its fifth day...
ZAHID TRIAL | Former deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his spouse’s credit card spending had exceeded RM1.4 million over a period of two years and two months, the Kuala Lumpur High Court heard today.
This was disclosed by Ambank senior vice-president (credit card authorisation and fraud control) Yeoh Eng Leong, as the hearing on Zahid’s alleged criminal breach of trust enters its fifth day.
According to Yeoh, who is the prosecution’s 10th witness, Zahid holds two principal credit cards – an AmIslamic Bank Visa Infinite, and an AmIslamic Bank World Mastercard.
In addition, the bank had provided another two similar credit cards as supplementary for Zahid's wife, Hamidah Khamis.
The four credit cards have a combined credit limit of RM250,000.
Based on credit card statements, Yeoh said he found “all or at least one of the cards were used actively for retail transactions both in Malaysia and overseas".
“Card payments were frequent but not always on time. This has resulted in several late payment charges being imposed on the respective card.”
Based on statements from December 2013 to January 2016 that Yeoh produced in court, Hamidah’s two credit cards had the highest spending totalling about RM1.1 million, compared to RM380,000 for Zahid’s credit cards.
This includes overseas spending such as in the UK, the US, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Indonesia, China, and South Korea.
Hamidah's Visa credit card statement dated April 28, 2014, recorded spending amounting to RM130,359.89, while the statement on the following month recorded RM204,366.99 in spending.
This includes RM26,893.33 spent on Burberry Asia in Kowloon, Hong Kong; RM9,500 at Louis Vuitton Starhill, Kuala Lumpur; RM7,919.35 at Swarovski Melbourne, Australia; and RM18,568.66 at Louis Vuitton Southbank, Australia.
Other expenditures made using the four credit cards include spending at hotels, and shopping centres and fashion brands such as Harrods, Max Mara, Myer, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Zilli Hermes, Stefano Ricci, Marks & Spencer, Escada, and Giorgio Armani.
There was also spending on toys such as Toys R Us, and DC Super Heroes; jewellery such as Poh Kong Jewellers, Habib Jewels, and Swarovski; pharmacies, hospitals and more.
Yeoh said based on bank records from January 2014 to January 2016, Zahid as the principal cardholder had made 37 credit card payments by cheque.
“Out of the 37 payments, two cheques were returned,” he added.
According to Yeoh, the total payment received over the two-year period was RM1,296,715.95.
The figure does not include payment made for Hamidah’s Mastercard in December 2013, which totalled RM247,802.28
Zahid is represented by a legal team led by Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, whereas the prosecution is led by DPP Raja Rozela Raja Toran.
Zahid is facing 47 charges, including 12 counts of criminal breach of trust, eight counts of receiving gratification, and 27 counts of money laundering involving Yayasan Akalbudi's funds.
All the charges were made under Section 409 of the Penal Code (for criminal breach of trust); Section 16(1)(a)(B) of the MACC Act 2019 (bribery); and Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Amlatfapua).
The case before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah would continue tomorrow.
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