The Malaysian Insight

THE prosecution in Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s corruption trial today refuted the defence’s argument that RM6 million from Datasonic Technologies Sdn Bhd was a political donation to Barisan Nasional (BN).

Deputy public prosecutor Gan Peng Kun said the money was given to Zahid through his charity foundation, Yayasan Akalbudi, and not the political coalition to which he belonged.

The funds involved were cheques worth RM5 million and another RM1 million from Datasonic on April 26, 2017.

“If it is true that the money was intended to be a political donation as claimed by Chew and Abu Hanifah, then why was it given to Zahid, then Home Minister, whose ministry was instrumental in giving the project to Datasonic, and not some other minister?” Gan said at the Kuala Lumpur High Court today.

Zahid, 68, is facing two corruption charges for allegedly receiving the money as a reward for appointing the information technology services management company to supply Malaysian passport chips for five years.

The cheques were made payable to legal firm Lewis & Co, the trustee of Yayasan Akalbudi, which Gan said has nothing to do with BN.

The defence has been using the testimonies of witnesses from Datasonic, namely its former chief executive officer Abu Hanifah Noordin and former deputy managing director Chew Ben Ben, who, in court, said the cheques were not bribes, but political contributions.

But Gan said: “No reasonable and sane person will come to court and admit that he or she gave a bribe to the person in the accused dock.”

Zahid, who is Bagan Datuk MP, is facing 47 charges – 12 counts of criminal breach of trust, 27 counts of money-laundering, and eight counts of bribery – involving tens of millions of ringgit in funds belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi.

As to the defence’s contention that Zahid did not appoint Datasonic in 2015 for the government contract worth RM318.75 million, Gan said Zahid did have a say over the decision.

He said the contract had to go through direct negotiation procedures, and such procurement could only be approved by the Finance Ministry (MoF), adding that both the Finance and Home Ministries had to agree to award the contract to Datasonic.

“It is MoF, as the ministry controlling government expenditure, who has a say in awarding direct negotiation contracts as in this case.

“The money used to pay Datasonic comes from MoF. However, the contract to supply the passport chips is under the purview of the Home Ministry.”

Gan used evidence from the 33rd prosecution witness – a former Home Ministry procurement division secretary, Abd Aziz Md Nor – who had testified that Zahid directed the ministry to use the passport chips of Datasonic.

“Initially, Aziz, after receiving the feedback from the Immigration Department, had not agreed for Datasonic to supply the passport chips.

“The matter took a different turn when the accused wrote a minute for Datasonic to be given the approval to supply the passport chips.

“The accused had prompted the change in the position taken by the Home Ministry official.”

The prosecutor submitted that the two cheques were gratification for Zahid as a reward for Datasonic securing the contract.

The hearing continues tomorrow. – October 4, 2021.