KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told his former press secretary to keep an eye on his former executive secretary due to issues of negligence, particularly involving his private bank account, the High Court here heard.
Mejar Jeneral (R) Datuk Fadzlette Othman Merican Idris Merican, who is now Ahmad Zahid's media director in his capacity as Umno president, testified that she knew of the issues involving Mejar Mazlina Mazlan @ Ramly, a prosecution witness, from the former deputy prime minister himself.
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"He asked me to monitor Mejar Mazlina as I am of a higher rank," Fadzlette said on Wednesday (Sept 21) during Ahmad Zahid's Yayasan Akalbudi (YAB) corruption trial.
The second defence witness said she had asked Mejar Mazlina to show her credit card statements and cheques before they were brought to Ahmad Zahid for his signature.
"However, Mejar Mazlina would always give excuses and never showed me what was requested.
"This situation continued and due to my official duty, I also overlooked monitoring her and following up on the matter," she said.
Fadzlette, who was reading her witness statement, also testified that she knew the signature stamp for Ahmad Zahid was held by Mejar Mazlina.
"This signature stamp was meant for limited use, only for certificates of recognition and festive greeting cards from Ahmad Zahid.
"I know this because I brought several certificates of recognition to Mejar Mazlina to have them stamped with his signature, on his instruction,"said Fadzlette.
The witness, who is a long-time staff of Ahmad Zahid, also told the court that the Bagan Datuk MP was a generous man.
Fadzlette said Ahmad Zahid would never deny any requests for donations and was not one to check the amount he was parting with.
"There was one time, after giving a handout, I remember Ahmad Zahid asking me, 'How much did I give, ya?'," Fadzlette said.
During Mejar Mazlina's testimony, she had told the court that Ahmad Zahid allowed his signature stamp to be used on YAB's cheques to pay his credit card bills.
In his testimony back in May, Ahmad Zahid said he had never instructed Mejar Mazlina to use YAB cheques to pay his credit card bills.
He said Mejar Mazlina had been negligent in handling his personal expenses as well as finances involving YAB.
Ahmad Zahid is facing 47 charges – 12 for criminal breach of trust (CBT), eight for corruption and 27 for money laundering – involving tens of millions of ringgit belonging to YAB.
The hearing continues before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah on Thursday (Sept 22).
