KUALA LUMPUR: Former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi paid over RM35,000 annual road tax for 20 private-owned vehicles mostly with the registration plate number 38 belonging to him and his wife.
This was revealed in the High Court today during his trial involving 47 criminal breach of trust (CBT), corruption and money laundering charges amounting to millions of ringgit belonging to charity foundation Yayasan Akalbudi.
The vehicles are two Harley-Davidson motorbikes, a Ducati Hypermotard and a Ducati Diavel Carbon motorbike, a Kawasaki KLX250 motorcycle, BMW R1200 GS, BMW R1200RT and BMW C600 motorcycles, two Lexus LX series cars, three Toyata Vellfire cars, a BMW 320i (A) car, a Mercedez Benz CLS 350, a Toyota Land Cruiser, a Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Jeep Wrangler, an Audi Q7s and a Honda C100 motorcycle.
Assistant director of the vehicles licensing division at the Road Transport Department Zaharudin Zainuddin, who was the 12th prosecution witness, testified that Zahid paid a total of RM35,726.80 each year for the vehicles insurance policy and road tax.
“He (Zahid) paid between RM2 and RM5,900.80 for the vehicles’ insurance policy and road tax annually,” he said.
The 48-year old witness said four of the vehicles were registered under the name of Zahid’s wife Datin Seri Hamidah Khamis, while one was registered under the name of Datuk Juhari Janan, who was Zahid’s former special officer.
During examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Lee Keng Fatt on whether the documents that the witness referred to in the case was the updated version, the witness answered in the affirmative.
Zaharudin also testified that the vehicles were private-owned.
On Oct 19 and Dec 14, 2018, as well as Feb 20 this year, Zahid pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court to a total of 47 charges, 12 of which are for CBT, eight for bribery and 27 for money laundering involving tens of millions of ringgit belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi.
Trial before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues tomorrow.