Sutracom Sdn Bhd CEO Shahrin Shamsuddin says he only became aware of this after the MACC began investigating his company.
Sutracom Sdn Bhd CEO Shahrin Shamsuddin, 41, the 15th prosecution witness in former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s corruption trial, said he was initially unaware that his brother, Mamfor Sdn Bhd owner Shahradzi Shamsuddin, had made the donation.
In his witness statement, Shahrin said his family-owned company, Sutracom, secured the RM605 million contract for the Pulau Indah Ring Road Phase 3 construction and upgrading project under the government’s Jana Wibawa programme in October 2022.
He said Sutracom subsequently transferred a total of RM13.772 million to Mamfor through nine online transactions between Sept 13, 2021, and Nov 14, 2022.
Shahrin said the funds came from subcontractors Vizione Group and Pembinaan Teguh Maju Sdn Bhd as security deposits related to the Pulau Indah project.
“I confirm that the money transferred to my brother’s company, Mamfor Sdn Bhd, was to pay for operating expenses and outstanding debts of our family-owned companies, including Majulia Sdn Bhd, Mamfor Sdn Bhd and Sutracom Sdn Bhd,” he said.
Shahrin testified that he only became aware that Shahradzi had donated part of the money to Bersatu during a family meeting held to discuss the MACC’s investigation into Sutracom.
“However, I do not know the total amount involved,” he said, adding that Shahradzi had never informed him how the funds were divided for settling outstanding debts, covering operating expenses and making donations to Bersatu.
Shahrin said he learned about the Pulau Indah project following the tabling of the 2020 budget by then finance minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz.
He said Shahradzi subsequently prepared a letter of intent addressed to Muhyiddin seeking approval for Sutracom to participate in the pre-qualification tender for the project.
During examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Mahadi Jumaat, Shahrin said he never gave permission for Shahradzi to channel funds to Bersatu.
Shahrin said neither he nor his brother was a member of any political party, adding that he had never made any political donations.
During cross-examination by K Kumaraendran, Shahrin agreed that Muhyiddin had no interest in his family-owned companies and that Sutracom secured the Pulau Indah project on its own merit.
Kumaraendran: Do you agree with me that Muhyiddin never personally asked for any donations?
Shahrin: None.
Kumaraendran: You told us in your witness statement that your brother had given some political donations to Bersatu?
Shahrin: Correct.
Kumaraendran: And he made the decision on his own, without being influenced by anyone?
Shahrin: That was his decision, and I do not know (anything) about it.
Muhyiddin, 78, faces seven charges linked to the Jana Wibawa programme, a government initiative introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic to assist Bumiputera contractors.
The Bersatu president is charged with four counts of abusing his position to solicit RM225.3 million in bribes for the party from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, Nepturis Sdn Bhd, Mamfor and Azman Yusoff.
The offences were allegedly committed at the Prime Minister’s Office between March 1, 2020, and Aug 20, 2021.
He also faces three counts of money laundering involving RM200 million allegedly received from Bukhary Equity and deposited into Bersatu’s accounts at AmBank and CIMB Bank.
The alleged offences took place at AmBank in Petaling Jaya and CIMB Bank on Jalan Stesen Sentral between Feb 25, 2021, and July 8, 2022.
The trial before Justice Noor Ruwena Nurdin continues tomorrow. - FMT
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