KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told the High Court today that a RM13 million contribution given by a businessman to Yayasan Akalbudi (YAB) was not a bribe but was for building a mosque and tahfiz school in Bagan Datuk, Perak.
Ahmad Zahid, 69, said he had never promised any MyEG projects to the businessman, textile wholesaler Junaith Asharab Md Shariff, as an inducement for the contribution because MyEG did not come under the Home Ministry but was under the Finance Ministry.
"The prosecution never submitted any evidence in court to show there was any proposal or proof suggesting I promised these projects to Junaith Asharab.
"In fact, Junaith Asharab's testimony itself clearly showed that these cheques were his contribution for the construction of a mosque and tahfiz school in Bagan Datuk," he added.
He said this when reading out his witness statement when making his defence against 47 charges - 12 on criminal breach of trust, eight on corruption and 27 on money laundering - involving millions of ringgit of YAB funds.
The Bagan Datuk Member of Parliament said Junaith Asharab had earlier testified in court, saying, "I am from well-known family. My in-law family is wealthy (sic) rich."
"I also learnt that Junaith Asharab is an Indian Muslim from a very rich family and his financial means exceed those of ordinary people. I was also given to understand that he had a facility in ringgit to be donated to any party he desired.
"I was also told that Junaith Asharab also contributed to the construction of a mosque in India where the writings of 30 juzuk (parts) of the Quran in the mosque were made of gold and the word 'Bismillah' at the start of each surah (chapter) was made of diamond," he said.
Apart from this, Ahmad Zahid also denied receiving a RM250,000 bribe from Junaith Asharab, saying the money was a loan given to his younger brother Datuk Seri Nasaee.
"Based on the testimony of Junaith Asharab during the prosecution stage in court, the cheque was a loan given to my younger brother (Nasaee). I had nothing to do with the cheque, and I had no knowledge that this cheque was a loan to my brother.
"I had no personal knowledge of this loan and had nothing to do with this cheque. I also did not know that this cheque was a loan to my younger brother," said Ahmad Zahid, who first knew Junaith Asharab in 2016 through Nasaee.
He is alleged to have committed the offences at the Maybank Dataran Maybank branch in Jalan Maarof, Bangsar here between July 15, 2016 and March 15, 2018 and was charged under Section 16(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.
The hearing before Justice Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues tomorrow.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Wed May 25 2022
![RM13 mln contribution for building mosque, tahfiz school, not bribe for MyEG projects - Ahmad Zahid RM13 mln contribution for building mosque, tahfiz school, not bribe for MyEG projects - Ahmad Zahid](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-05/81653481723_TBZAHIDMAHKAMAH.jpg)
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told the High Court today that a RM13 million contribution given by a businessman to Yayasan Akalbudi (YAB) was not a bribe but was for building a mosque and tahfiz school in Bagan Datuk, Perak. - BERNAMA
10 Berita Pilihan - (16 Julai 2024
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp
Jawatankuasa Kira-kira Wang Negara (PAC) memberi tempoh tiga bulan kepada Perbadanan Pembangunan Sumber Manusia (HRD Corp) untuk mengemukakan laporan tindakan susulan terhadap syor jawatankuasa itu.
Kylian Mbappe tandatangan kontrak dengan Real Madrid
Bintang bola sepak Perancis Kylian Mbappe menandatangani kontrak selama lima tahun dengan kelab Sepanyol Real Madrid pada Selasa.
Pelepasan ketujuh air sisa nuklear Fukushima ke laut selesai
Jepun telah menyelesaikan pusingan ketujuh pelepasan air sisa radioaktif yang dirawat dari loji kuasa nuklear Fukushima Daiichi ke Lautan Pasifik pada Selasa.
Empat termasuk kapten maut dalam pertempuran
Empat anggota tentera India termasuk kapten meninggal dunia akibat kecederaan selepas pertempuuran pada malam isnin di Hutan Desa.
Pakistan sahkan 4 warganya terbunuh di Oman
Pakistan berkata pada Selasa empat warganya terbunuh dalam insiden tembakan pada malam Isnin berhampiran ibu negara Oman, Muscat.
Lima terbunuh, puluhan cedera dalam protes antikuota di Bangladesh
Sekurang-kurangnya empat orang terbunuh dan puluhan lagi cedera dalam pertempuran antara pelajar yang memprotes sistem kuota dalam pekerjaan sektor awam dan polis di pelbagai bahagian Bangladesh pada Selasa.
Kerajaan cadang perkenal pembiayaan swasta
Kerajaan menyasarkan untuk memperkenalkan pembiayaan swasta alternatif bagi memastikan kemampanan kewangan program sektor air, sekali gus mengurangkan kebergantungan pada perbelanjaan kerajaan dan mengukuhkan daya tahan.
Saya tak fitnah Guan Eng, cuma jelaskan siasatan SPRM - Muhyiddin
Presiden Bersatu Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin memberitahu Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur hari ini bahawa beliau tidak memfitnah Lim Guan Eng berhubung isu pengecualian cukai terhadap Yayasan Albukhary
KPT alu-alukan dapatan, cadangan PAC - Zambry
Ini termasuklah cadangan pelaksanaan Garis Panduan Pelaburan dan Pembiayaan oleh Universiti Awam 2024 kepada anak-anak syarikat di bawah seliaan Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi (KPT).