SHAH ALAM: The High Court right here was instructed on Wednesday (May 18) that Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB) sponsored former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s overseas journeys, his spouse’s birthday and Hari Raya celebration.
Former UKSB director VK Lee stated the sponsorships had been on high of the month-to-month contributions from the corporate from 2014 to 2018.
“There had been additionally months that we didn’t make the month-to-month fee, however we doubled the fee for the subsequent month, as to cowl the month that we missed.
“I personally didn’t maintain information of the supply, however I do know that David Tan (Administrative Manager for UKSB since 2012 up until 2018) saved a type of a ledger on the month-to-month funds, which he would present me on occasion.
“I can verify that I’ve seen David’s ledger, however I don’t suppose I’d be capable of clarify the small print in it,” he stated when studying his witness’s assertion through the examination in chief by Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Abdul Malik Ayob.
Earlier, the fifteenth prosecution witness instructed the court docket that UKSB delivered money on a month-to-month foundation between SGD200,000 and SGD520,000 to Ahmad Zahid from 2014 to 2018 in relation to the Foreign Visa System (VLN) Contract.
The third prosecution witness, former Home Ministry Immigration Affairs Division deputy secretary Siti Jalilah Abd Manap had beforehand instructed the court docket that Ahmad Zahid had prolonged the UKSB contract for the VLN mission although the prevailing contract was legitimate for 3 extra years.
Explaining how the contributions began, Lee stated Ahmad Zahid indicated that he wanted them for his political fund and requested the witness to help him in issues regarding Umno.
“What I understood from this request was that Datuk Seri Zahid needed monetary help from UKSB. He by no means talked about the quantity he needed though he did say that the contribution needs to be made in money and in Singapore {dollars}.
“The money cash was ready by David Tan. Once prepared, David Tan would give me the envelope containing the cash and I’d make the supply. Usually, the three of us – Wan Quoris (Wan Quoris Shah Wan Abdul Ghani – UKSB director), David Tan and myself would go collectively to Datuk Seri Zahid’s home, however the handing over of the cash is completed by one particular person solely.
The witness stated the supply dates of the cash weren’t set and it will be carried out at Ahmad Zahid’s comfort.
“Thus, the supply can happen on any date of the month as determined by Datuk Seri Zahid. The handing over of the cash could be carried out at his residence at night time, often after 10 pm, and we’d guarantee that there have been no different guests at his home earlier than coming into.
“We would name him first earlier than coming to his home. Both his non-public and official residences had safety guards or policemen, however we might at all times be allowed to go in with out the necessity to report on the guardhouse,” he stated.
He added that although the funds had been stated to be political contributions, UKSB by no means made any funds into Umno’s account nor had been issued receipts or any acknowledgment for the funds.
Lee additionally stated UKSB would by no means have given Ahmad Zahid any cash if he had not requested for it.
“While it’s true that Datuk Seri Zahid (Ahmad Zahid) didn’t explicitly ask us to present him cash, he by no means questioned us concerning the cash that we gave and never as soon as did he ever ask us to take again the cash,” he stated.
The fifteenth prosecution witness stated the primary time he met Ahmad Zahid was in May 2013 at Tawakal Hospital when the Umno president’s son had met with an accident and was handled there.
“It was a brief assembly, Wan Quoris and I spoke briefly about our contracts with Home Ministry (KDN). Datuk Seri Zahid (Ahmad Zahid) didn’t say a lot however acknowledged what we instructed him.
Ahmad Zahid, 69, was dealing with 33 fees of receiving bribes amounting to SG$13.56 million from UKSB for himself as Home Minister to increase the contract of the corporate because the operator of OSC service in China and the provision VLN system in addition to to take care of the contract settlement to provide the VLN built-in system to the identical firm by KDN.
For one other seven counts, he was charged with acquiring for himself SG$1.15mil, RM3mil, EURO15,000 and US$15,000 from the identical firm which has official hyperlinks along with his official obligation.
He was charged with committing all of the offences at Seri Satria, Presint 16, Putrajaya and Country Heights Kajang between October 2014 and Mach 2018.
The trial earlier than Judge Datuk Mohd Yazid Mustafa continues on Thursday (May 19).
