Public Bank Bhd banking services manager Tan Kok Kiong, 32, said he also could not confirm that the money which was deposited through a cheque dated March 22, 2014, into a Public Bank account in the name of ZAM Engineering & Construction was entrusted to Shahrir.
The third prosecution witness said this during cross-examination by Shahrir’s counsel Shazreen Mohd Hatta.
Shahrir, 72, is facing a charge of failing to declare as income the sum of RM1 million which he received from former prime minister Najib Razak.
Tan, who works at the Muar branch of Public Bank, agreed with the lawyer’s suggestion that he could not confirm if the money that went into the company’s bank account was actually a reimbursement.
Earlier, when reading his witness statement, Tan said the application to open the account was made by ZAM Engineering & Construction partners Hamidah Basir and Nur Faizah Zulkifli on Jan 25, 2013, and RM63,800 was deposited via a cheque into the account on March 24, 2014.
The witness said the RM63,800 was a normal transaction that was not suspicious because it was not a large amount for a company account.
“If there is a suspicion in a transaction involving a cheque, the bank has the right not to proceed with the transaction?” asked the counsel, to which the witness replied: “Yes”.
Shazreen: The balance in the Public Bank account was RM529.60 before the RM63,800 went into the bank account. Is the sudden deposit of RM63,800 something suspicious?
Tan: No, because it’s a construction company and it might have received payment for a contract.
During re-examination by deputy public prosecutor Natrah Fareha Rahmat, the witness said he could only confirm that money was deposited into the account but could not verify the source of the money.
Meanwhile, Malayan Banking Bhd assistant branch manager Salniza Abdul Rahman, 49, told the court that RM10,000 was deposited through a cheque into a Maybank account of Taman Kebun Teh Umno branch, Johor, on Dec 10, 2013.
According to the fourth prosecution witness, the Umno branch account was managed by three people – Shahril @ Shahrir Samad, who was the then branch chief, treasurer Murad Taib and secretary Salaehudin Ali.
Shahrir is charged with money laundering for not declaring to the Inland Revenue Board the RM1 million payment as part of his real income in the income tax return for 2013. The money, believed to be from unlawful activities, was received from Najib through a cheque, the charge said.
The charge, framed under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, provides for a maximum fine of RM5 million, or imprisonment for up to five years, or both, if found guilty.
The trial before judge Muhammad Jamil Hussin continues tomorrow.