Investigating officer V Mahendran said he was directed on Sept 27, 2018 by the then MACC deputy director of special investigations to probe the matter following a report by another MACC officer, S Vijaya Kumar.

“This was in relation to bribes paid by Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB) to ministers and civil servants in the home ministry in relation to the processing and issuance of visas for tourists from China,” he said in his witness statement.

“The main aim of this investigation was to secure documents in relation to the contract to process and issue visas to tourists from China from 2010 and 2018 and also to identify the witnesses involved.”

He said the investigation was classified under Section 16(b)(B) of the MACC Act as it is an offence for those holding public office and civil servants to accept bribes.

Mahendran, the 18th and last prosecution witness, said MACC also took statements from several senior officers from the home ministry.

Zahid is facing 33 charges of receiving bribes amounting to S$13.56 million (RM42 million) from UKSB as the then home minister to extend the firm’s contract as the operator of the one-stop centre in China and the foreign visa (VLN) system as well as to maintain the contract agreement for the supply of the VLN integrated system.

The Umno president and Bagan Datuk MP is also accused of another seven counts of obtaining for himself S$1.15 million, RM3 million, 15,000 Swiss francs and US$15,000 from the same company in connection with his official duties.

He is charged with committing all the offences at Seri Satria in Precinct 16, Putrajaya, and at Country Heights, Kajang, between October 2014 and March 2018.

The hearing before trial judge Yazid Mustafa continues.