Umno branch got RM10k from Shahrir for football tourney - witness
The branch’s deputy chief Abu Bakar Abd Aziz, 72, said the donation was deposited into a Maybank Islamic account, which is the official account of the branch, on Dec 10, 2013.
“On Dec 13, 2013, a cheque worth RM7,000 was issued to Mohamad Danial Zainal Abidin, who is the...
The High Court in Kuala Lumpur yesterday heard that the Taman Kebun Teh Umno branch in Johor received a cheque worth RM10,000 from former Felda chairperson Shahrir Abdul Samad for a football tournament nine years ago.
The branch’s deputy chief Abu Bakar Abd Aziz, 72, said the donation was deposited into a Maybank Islamic account, which is the official account of the branch, on Dec 10, 2013.
“On Dec 13, 2013, a cheque worth RM7,000 was issued to Mohamad Danial Zainal Abidin, who is the Taman Kebun Teh Umno Youth chief, for the expenses of the YB Tan Sri Shahrir Hj Ab Samad Football Tournament,” Abu Bakar said
He added that he applied for the donation himself because Shahrir (above) is the Johor Bahru Umno division chief.
He said this when reading his witness statement at the trial of the former Johor Bahru MP who is charged with failing to declare RM1 million, which he received from former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB).
Asked by Shahrir’s counsel Syed Faisal Al-Edros Syed Abdullah Al-Edros if he knew the RM10,000 was the politician's savings, Abu Bakar replied: “I don't know.”
“When a branch has financial problems, one of the main sources for financial assistance is from the division chief namely Tan Sri Shahrir?” asked the counsel, to which the witness replied: “Yes.”
Questioned by another counsel, Dzulkifli Ahmad, if he ever doubted the source of the cheque, Abu Bakar replied he had no doubt in the matter.
Shahrir purchased a car
To a question by deputy public prosecutor Mohd 'Afif Ali, Abu Bakar said he never asked and did not know where the money came from.
In the proceedings yesterday, the court also heard the testimony of Sutera Auto Sdn Bhd sales advisor, Abdul Rahman Sivam Abdullah, 52, regarding the purchase of a Honda Civic Hybrid car worth RM118,485 by Shahrir.
According to Abdul Rahman, it is not uncommon for an individual as old as Shahrir to make full payment for the purchase of a car worth RM100,000.
Shahrir, 72, was charged with money laundering by not stating his real income in the Income Tax Return Form for Assessment Year 2013, which is a violation of Section 113(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act 1967, on the RM1 million, believed to be from unlawful activities, which he received from Najib through a cheque.
He was charged with committing the offence at IRB, Duta Branch, Government Office Complex, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim, Kuala Lumpur, on April 25, 2014.
The charge, framed under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, provides a maximum fine of RM5 million, or imprisonment for up to five years, or both if found guilty.
The trial before Judge Muhammad Jamil Hussin continues today.
- Bernama
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