Zahid accuses DPP of trying to ‘trap’ him by repeating questions

KUALA LUMPUR: A frustrated Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has accused the prosecution in his corruption trial of trying to “trap him” by repeating questions on the same issue.

The former deputy prime minister, who is making his defence on corruption charges involving Yayasan Akalbudi (YAB) funds, said this when deputy public prosecutor Harris Ong Mohd Jeffery Ong kept pushing for details on donations given to the foundation.

Ahmad Zahid, 69, had said it was enough for him to see the monthly bank statement and ledger which recorded the transfer of YAB funds into the client’s account at the law firm of Messrs Lewis & Co, which was entrusted to manage the fund.

“The donation was not made in my name, but to a foundation.

“If the foundation is managed by a law firm and it is clear the donation had been credited, it is immoral to ask who the giver is or if the money had been credited ... putting this question to me repeatedly, is to trap me,” he said according to Bernama.Harris Ong, however, told the prosecution the facts needed to be presented so it could be decided by the court.

Lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, representing Ahmad Zahid, was not satisfied and told the prosecution to bring the matter up during submission.

High Court Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah chipped in and asked the DPP to continue with his questions.

When asked another similar question, the Bagan Datuk MP told the court that there were three different dates and it was impossible for him to remember them.

“I was not shown the original cheques, but there was a monthly statement that matched the ledger,” he said.

Earlier, Harris Ong referred Ahmad Zahid to 11 cheques amounting to RM3.8mil from various individuals and corporate bodies for donation to YAB. The money was credited into a customer’s account at Lewis & Co.

Ahmad Zahid said he did not know who the owners of the cheques were as he had never seen the cheques physically.

On Jan 24, the court ordered Ahmad Zahid to enter his defence on 47 charges – 12 of them for breach of trust, eight for corruption and 27 for money laundering involving tens of millions of ringgit of funds belonging to YAB.