Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigating officer Muhammad Fazli Zulkifli said he gathered this information from the witnesses he interviewed.
“Datuk Seri (Zahid) told us that Yayasan Akalbudi was interested in investing in Ri-Yaz Assets Sdn Bhd. However, other witnesses said it was Nurulhidayah who was the one interested and Yayasan Akalbudi will pay for it,” he said during Zahid’s corruption trial.
To another question by deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Sazilee Abdul Khairi on Ri-Yaz’s financial situation in 2016, Fazli said the company’s was “unstable” because of its hotel operations in Bali, Indonesia.
Previously, the court was told that RM8.6 million was paid to Ri-Yaz as a deposit for the purchase of 60% shares owned by then director Abdul Rashid Abdul Manan.
However, Nurulhidayah’s bid to acquire the shares did not materialise in 2017, and she then demanded the RM8.6 million deposit to be refunded.
Lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, representing Zahid, questioned the witness on Zahid’s statement, which was recorded by MACC in 2018.
Hisyam pointed out that Zahid told investigators Yayasan Akalbudi wanted to invest in Ri-Yaz to create income for the foundation.
Fazli agreed that was what Zahid previously told MACC.
“However, the CEO of Exim Bank told him this investment would not generate income and he (Zahid) withdrew the decision,” Hisyam said.
The witness agreed.
Hisyam then asked why Fazli did not include Zahid’s version in his witness statement tendered in court.
The officer said the defence version was “not important”.
“I did not include his (Zahid) version in my witness statement today because it was his testimony to defend himself,” Fazli said.
Deputy public prosecutor Raja Rozela Raja Toran objected when Hisyam suggested that one of Zahid’s charges on alleged criminal breach of trust (CBT) of RM17.9 million from Yayasan Akalbudi was framed in bad faith by the prosecution.
“It is not proper to ask the witness (the question),” she said.
Hisyam said it was the defence’s contention that the charge regarding the alleged CBT of RM17.9 million was done in bad faith.
When trial judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah said Fazli needed to answer the question, the witness said he disagreed with Hisyam’s suggestion.
Zahid faces 47 charges of money laundering and CBT involving funds from Yayasan Akalbudi,, and accepting bribes for various projects during his tenure as home minister.
The hearing continues.