KUALA LUMPUR: A bank manager told the High Court here that Tan Sri Shahrir Ab Samad did not know where former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak acquired the RM1mil which was given to the former Felda chairman.
Jalan Raja Chulan Ambank (M) Berhad branch manager, R. Uma Devi, 43, who confirmed the matter said she also did not know the source of the money despite her 12 years banking experience.
She said this when cross-examined by Shahrir’s counsel, Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad at the trial of Shahrir who is charged for failing to declare RM1mil received from Najib to the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN).
Dzulkifli: As an experienced bank officer, if the bank cheque (RM1mil) has been cleared, it means there is no issue with the source of the money.
Uma Devi: Yes, that at time, there was none (issue).
Dzulkifli: Cik Uma if you can confirm the cheque has no problem, what’s more with Tan Sri Shahrir to also assume that the cheque has no problem when receiving and depositing (money) into his account.
Uma Devi: Yes.
Apart from that, Uma Devi agreed with Dzulkifli that LHDN did not record her conversation since the case was related to money laundering in which Shahrir allegedly did not report his real income to the LHDN and not over corruption.
The witness said only the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission recorded her conversation.
Shahrir, 71, is charged with money laundering by not stating his real income in the Income Tax Return Form for Assessment Year 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 an AmIslamic Bank Bhd cheque dated Nov 27, 2013.
The cheque was then deposited into his (Shahrir’s) Public Islamic Bank account on Nov 28, 2013.
Shahrir was charged with committing the offence at LHDN, Duta branch, Government Office Complex, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim here, on April 25, 2014
The trial before Justice Muhammad Jamil Hussin continues on Tuesday (Sept 6). - Bernama
