Shahrir gave RM10,000 cheque to Umno branch for football tournament, says witness

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here heard that Taman Kebun Teh Umno branch in Johor had received a RM10,000 cheque from former Felda chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Ab Samad for a football tournament nine years ago.

Its deputy chief Abu Bakar Abd Aziz, 72, said on Tuesday (Aug 9) that the donation was deposited into the branch's official bank account with Maybank Islamic 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, adding that he had applied for the donation himself because Shahrir is the Johor Baru Umno division chief.

He said this when reading his witness statement at the trial of the former Johor Baru MP who is charged with failing to declare RM1mil which he received from Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN).

Asked by Shahrir's counsel Datuk Syed Faisal Al-Edros Syed Abdullah Al-Edros if he knew that 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, Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad, if he ever doubted the source of the cheque, Abu Bakar replied that he had no doubt in the matter.

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 Tuesday's proceedings, 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 was 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 for not stating his real income in the Income Tax Return Form for 2013, which is a violation of Section 113(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act 1967, on the RM1mil, believed to be from unlawful activities, which he received from Najib through a cheque.

He was charged with committing the offence at The LHDN's Duta Branch, Government Office Complex, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim here 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 RM5mil, or imprisonment for up to five years, or both if found guilty.

The trial, before Judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin continues tomorrow. – Bernama