A KL Sentral CIMB branch manager told the Kuala Lumpur High Court during Muhyiddin Yassin’s corruption trial today that red flags were raised over transactions involving millions deposited into Bersatu’s bank account.
Lee Hui Nee, who joined the branch on Jan 1, 2022, told deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin that commonly, bank branches would issue suspicious transaction reports (STR) to their headquarters, for the latter to pursue the matter with Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).
The witness, who hesitated to respond when asked about STR, eventually told the court that there were STR issues involving Bersatu’s account after being assured by Wan Shaharuddin that her testimony under oath is “safe”.
Lee was initially reluctant to respond as she said information on STR’s issuance is confidential and protected.
The STR was issued over a high volume of transactions, involving large amounts, which were inconsistent with the account’s profile, she said.
The witness was also referred to copies of 28 cheques, issued in 2021 and 2022, amounting to RM19.3 million in confirming the sum were deposited into the party’s CIMB bank account.
Among which, RM4 million from the total amount was from Azman Yusoff, from whom Muhyiddin is accused of using his position to solicit RM4.8 million from, for his party’s benefit.
‘MACC never asked about transactions’
The court also learned that MACC never queried Lee on the red flags over Bersatu’s account during their Ops Jana Wibawa investigation when the prosecution’s second witness mentioned this during cross-examination by Muhyiddin’s lawyer, Amer Hamzah Arshad.
Amer: Every time you’re asked by MACC about this account, at any point in time, did the MACC officer ask you to show him any STR report against Bersatu?
Lee: No.
Amer: So they (DPPs) asked you questions in court today about STR, but during the investigation, they did not even bother to ask you about it?
Lee: Agree.
Amer: This is the first time you were asked these questions (about STR)?
Lee: Yes.
Lee told the lawyer that she had personal knowledge of the STR’s existence, as there were bank records on the matter, and that the reports were not shown in court today.
The witness also agreed with Amer’s suggestion that the transactions referred to her earlier should not simply be deemed unlawful, as she was not shown any report by BNM to suggest they are illegal.
Jana Wibawa charges
Muhyiddin was charged with four counts of abuse of power under Section 23(1) of the MACC Act 2009, involving RM255.3 million.
He was also charged with three counts of money laundering under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing, and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
The charges relate to Jana Wibawa, which was introduced while he was prime minister between 2020 and 2021 to accelerate project implementation and boost the country’s economy during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The trial before judge Noor Ruwena Nurdin continues tomorrow. - Mkini
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