KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 (Bernama) — A director of Sutracom Sdn Bhd (SSB) told the High Court today that part of the RM13.77 million transferred from the company to Mamfor Sdn Bhd was later donated to Bersatu.
However, Shahrin Shamsuddin, 41, said he did not know how much Mamfor, a company owned by his brother Shahradzi, had contributed to the party, adding that he had never been informed of the donations.
“I confirm that Sutracom transferred RM13,772,000 from its Bank Muamalat account to Mamfor’s Bank Muamalat account through nine transactions.
“I do not know how much of the money Shahradzi used to settle the family’s outstanding company debts, cover operating expenses or donate to Bersatu. I entrusted him with managing the settlement of the companies’ debts and operating expenses,” he said.
The 15th prosecution witness said this while reading his witness statement at the trial of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is facing seven charges of abuse of power and money laundering.
Shahrin said the funds were transferred to Mamfor to pay the operating expenses and outstanding debts of Mamfor, SSB, Majulia Sdn Bhd and other family-owned companies.
He said Majulia is owned by his mother and younger brother, and that he only learnt part of the money had been donated to Bersatu during a family discussion after the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) launched its investigation.
Questioned by deputy public prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat, Shahrin said he had never authorised his brother to transfer the money to Bersatu or agreed for it to be used as a donation.
Shahrin also testified that he personally carried out the online transfers and recorded all nine transactions.
He said Sutracom received an email from the Government Procurement Division of the Ministry of Finance (MOF) on March 26, 2021, regarding pre-qualification under the Jana Wibawa programme.
He confirmed receiving the Letter of Acceptance from the Public Works Department (JKR) for the RM605,217,790 contract to construct and upgrade Phase 3 of the Pulau Indah Ring Road in Klang, Selangor, with a contract period of 36 months.
Shahrin said another family-owned company, Majulia, had also applied to Muhyiddin for approval to participate in the same project.
Referring to Sutracom’s letter to Muhyiddin on the project, he confirmed that it had been prepared and signed by his brother.
“The signature is not mine. However, I knew about the letter because Shahradzi informed me about it. It was common practice for our family-owned companies to submit applications for government projects,” he said.
During cross-examination by defence counsel Datuk Seri K. Kumaraendran, Shahrin agreed that Muhyiddin had no connection with either Mamfor or SSB and held no financial interest in either company.
Muhyiddin, 79, who was prime minister and Bersatu president at the time, is facing four charges under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 of allegedly abusing his position to obtain RM225.3 million in gratification for the party in connection with the Jana Wibawa programme between March 2020 and August 2021.
He also faces three charges under Section 4(1)(b), read together with Section 87(1), of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 involving RM200 million allegedly deposited into Bersatu’s bank accounts between February 2021 and July 2022.
The offences carry maximum prison terms of 20 years and 15 years respectively, in addition to fines, upon conviction.
The trial before Judge Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin continues tomorrow.
— BERNAMA