Zahid trial: Cash-to-cheques scheme is money laundering, says witness

 

ZAHID TRIAL | The RM7.5 million received by money changer Omar Ali Abdullah that was turned into cheques made out to Messrs Lewis & Co was a form of money laundering, the Kuala Lumpur High Court heard today.

This was said by MACC investigating officer Mohd Fahmee Mohamad Nor when re-examined by deputy public prosecutor Harris Ong Mohd Jeffery Ong, who was probing why the MACC did not investigate Yayasan Al-Bukhary.

Omar, in July last year, told the court that he was instructed in 2014 by Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who was deputy prime minister then, to handle the deposit of cash to Yayasan Akalbudi's account.

Zahid allegedly told Omar that the latter will hear from donors, allegedly from Yayasan Al-Bukhary. Omar eventually received the funds from several men that he could not identify and executed Zahid's instructions.

Fahmee explained to the court that he did not approach Yayasan Al-Bukhary because Omar could not identify the "well-dressed" men who passed him the money.

"As an investigating officer, I saw this as money laundering involving a suspicious source (of funds)," he said.

When Harris asked if MACC investigations suggested that the funds were from Yayasan Al-Bukhary, Fahmee replied in the negative.

Harris: Apart from Omar Ali, did anyone else say the funds came from Yayasan Al-Bukhary?

Fahmee: No. In fact, we did not find any receipts from Yayasan Al-Bukhary.

During cross-examination, defence lawyer Ahmad Zaidi Zainal attempted to establish that Fahmee had made a fatal mistake, pointing to the 27th charge against Zahid which was related to the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

The witness agreed with the lawyer that determining the source of funds was important under the Act but Fahmee did not record statements from Yayasan Al-Bukhary.

According to the 27th charge, Zahid was alleged to have ordered Omar to turn RM7,511,250.20 into 35 cheques that were received by Lewis & Co.

Throughout the trial, the defence team had attempted to project Lewis & Co as Yayasan Akalbudi's trustee. However, both Lewis & Co partners testified last August that this was not true.

When Zaidi asked Fahmee if he knew that Omar took the initiative to turn the RM7.5 million into cheques, the MACC officer replied in the affirmative.

The trial, currently into its 49th day, is being heard by judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah. - Mkini