KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi donated RM5.9 million to his younger brother to buy two properties for his religious activities, the High Court was told today.
Yayasan Al-Falah trustee Faisalluddin Mohamat Yusuff, who is also the foundation lawyer, said Datuk Seri Mohamad Nasaee Ahmad Tarmizi told him about the matter.
He said Nasaee - who was the chairman and founder of Yayasan Al-Falah, wanted to purchase two bungalows in Country Heights for religious activities.
"The bungalows were in a bad condition and we decided to do some major renovation to accommodate religious activities there.
"We initiated the deal in December 2016 and agreed to purchase both properties at RM3 million and RM2.9 million respectively.
"Nasaee then handed me a cheque of RM5.9 million issued by Lewis & Co. I did not ask him who is Lewis & Co.
"However, after some time, I asked him who was Lewis & Co. and he (Nasaee) said it was a contribution from Yayasan Akalbudi which is owned by Zahid," he said.
Lewis & Co. has been identified as the trustee for Yayasan Akalbudi, from which Zahid is accused of having misappropriated funds.
He said Zahid did not have any interest in Yayasan Al-Falah as Nasaee was the one who controlled the foundation's finances and management.
However, he explained that there were similarities between both foundations (Yayasan Al-Falah and Yayasan Akalbudi).
"Yayasan Al-Falah was founded for the family of Hamidi@Ahmad Tarmizi's family while I was made to understand that Yayasan Akalbudi is a foundation specific to Zahid only.
"Hamidi is the biological father of Zahid and Nasaee.
"Both of them (foundation) shared the same objective which is to give donations and empower Islamic religion in this country," he said.
Faisalluddin during cross-examination by Zahid's counsel agreed that the purchase of the bungalows was in line with Yayasan Al-Falah's objective.
"We have turned one of the bungalows into a religious centre where we have a small library, surau, and a hostel for students," he said.
On Oct 19 and Dec 14, 2018, and Dec 20 last year, Zahid, 67, pleaded not guilty to a total of 47 charges, 12 of which are for criminal breach of trust (CBT), eight for bribery and 27 for money-laundering involving tens of millions of ringgit belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi.
The trial before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues.