Zahid’s corruption trial: Decide to go to two Nation Heights ‘bungalows’ allegedly transformed for Islamic research
Lolita
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Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi arrives on the Kuala Lumpur Excessive Courtroom July 5, 2022. — Image by Hari Anggara
By Ida Lim
Wednesday, 06 Jul 2022 12:12 PM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, July 6 — Excessive Courtroom choose Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah might be making a web site go to to 2 “bungalows” in Nation Heights, Selangor purchased in 2017 with RM5.9 million of funds belonging to the charity Yayasan Akalbudi as a part of Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s ongoing corruption and cash laundering trial.
Throughout listening to this morning, defence lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik invited the choose to make a web site inspection because the two properties are the subject material of one of many 27 cash laundering prices in opposition to Ahmad Zahid.
“Loads has been stated in regards to the bungalows, maybe we invite Yang Arif to have a web site go to of the 2 bungalows and Yayasan Al-Falah,” Hisyam stated.
Nonetheless, Datuk Raja Rozela Raja Toran, who’s main the prosecution argued in opposition to a web site go to, saying it was pointless as pictures of the 2 properties could possibly be produced in court docket.
“However for us to truly take the journey, it is probably not about what renovation, there was a purchase order, I believe I’d decline the invitation to go to the bungalow heaps. It is not essential,” she stated.
However Hisyam insisted.
“It is necessary for Your Lordship to go to the stated web site as a result of points have been raised on this level, and to present clear image to My Lord as regards the present standing of each items of land, then My Lord will have the ability to visualise the place the surau is, the situation, the space of each bungalow heaps to the mosque in query,” he stated.
Raja Rozela then recommended that the location go to be organized for dates that might not conflict with the trial listening to in court docket if the choose believed it to be essential.
Sequerah concurred.
“I believe within the curiosity of justice, I believe I’d accede to the request for a web site go to, however we are able to at all times repair that for one more time. We are able to organize the dates later,” he stated.
Throughout cross-examination in the present day, Ahmad Zahid was requested to described the 2 Nation Heights properties purchased with Yayasan Alkalbudi’s cash and stated they have been removed from his personal home that’s in the identical neighbourhood.
The previous deputy prime minister stated they have been as “adjoining” to or at a “strolling distance” from Surau An-Nur in Nation Heights, which he described because the Islamic centre of the neighbourhood.
He first recommended a web site inspection of the 2 properties by the court docket so they may make a private evaluation on the areas in yesterday’s listening to.
“I ask the court docket to go to the homes, to see whether or not it’s residence or pusat maahad tahfiz,” the Umno president stated yesterday.
Beforehand, Ahmad Zahid stated the 2 plenty of land with homes or two “bungalows” already constructed on them have been bought for the aim of organising a Quran research centre for retirees and for tahfiz college students who want to be taught and memorise the Quran.
Bungalows within the UK and different elements of the world usually discuss with a small single storey home however in Malaysia and Singapore have advanced to discuss with indifferent homes with multiple storey.
Ahmad Zahid is going through 47 prices, particularly 12 counts of prison breach of belief in relation to RM31 million of charitable basis Yayasan Akalbudi’s funds, 27 counts of money-laundering, and eight counts of bribery prices.
One of many 27 money-laundering prices that Ahmad Zahid is going through alleges that he had engaged immediately in a transaction that includes proceeds of illegal exercise, by giving instruction to purchase the 2 “bungalow heaps” for RM5.9 million utilizing a cheque issued by the legislation agency Lewis & Co through a consumer account at Maybank, with the funds stated to be unlawful proceeds.
All through the trial, Ahmad Zahid and his legal professionals have insisted that Lewis & Co is a trustee for Yayasan Akalbudi and holds funds on belief for it in a consumer account.
Yayasan Akalbudi was shaped with the goal of eradicating poverty and serving to the poor, and Ahmad Zahid is a trustee of the muse and likewise its sole signatory for cheques.
