Shahrir gave RM10,000 cheque to Umno branch, says witness

 

Shahrir Samad is charged with money laundering for failing to declare as income the sum of RM1 million which he received from Najib Razak. (Bernama pic)

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

Branch deputy chief Abu Bakar Abd Aziz, 72, said the donation was deposited into the official account of the branch at Maybank Islamic Bank on Dec 10, 2013.

“On Dec 13, 2013, a cheque for RM7,000 was issued to Mohamad Danial Zainal Abidin, who is the Taman Kebun Teh Umno Youth chief, for the expenses incurred in the YB Tan Sri Shahrir Hj Ab Samad Football Tournament,” Abu Bakar said, adding that he had applied for the donation because Shahrir was the Johor Bahru Umno division chief.

He said this when reading his witness statement at the trial of the former Johor Bahru MP, who is charged with failing to declare RM1 million, which he received from Najib Razak, to the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN).

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Asked by Shahrir’s counsel Syed Faisal Al-Edros Syed Abdullah Al-Edros if he knew that the RM10,000 was from the politician’s savings, Abu Bakar replied: “I don’t know.”

“When a branch has financial problems, one of the main sources of financial assistance is from the division chief, namely Tan Sri Shahrir?” asked the counsel, to which the witness replied: “Yes”.

Questioned by another counsel, Dzulkifli Ahmad, if he ever doubted the source of the cheque, Abu Bakar replied that he did not.

To a question by deputy public prosecutor ‘Afif Ali, Abu Bakar said he never asked and did not know where the money came from.

In today’s proceedings, the court also heard the testimony of Sutera Auto Sdn Bhd sales adviser, Rahman Sivam Abdullah, 52, on the purchase of a Honda Civic Hybrid car worth RM118,485 by Shahrir.

According to 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, is charged with money laundering by not stating his real income in the income tax return form for the 2013 assessment year, which is a violation of Section 113(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act 1967, on the RM1 million, believed to be from unlawful activities, which he received from Najib through a cheque.

He is charged with committing the offence at LHDN, Duta Branch, Government Office Complex, in 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 RM5 million, or imprisonment for up to five years, or both if found guilty.

The trial before judge Jamil Hussin continues tomorrow. - FMT