However, Zahid said he did not credit a RM6 million political donation he received from passport chip supplier Datasonic Group Bhd into his own account.
“The money was deposited into Lewis & Co’s account,” he said when cross-examined by deputy public prosecutor Abdul Malik Ayob.
The law firm was a trustee of Yayasan Akalbudi, a charitable foundation that Zahid founded.
The DPP had asked Zahid why he did not deposit the money into Umno or Barisan Nasional’s account as he was an office-bearer of both the party and the coalition.
Zahid said he needed funds for his parliamentary constituency and other areas to carry out charitable activities to assist the poor and needy.
“In carrying out such activities, I did not deposit the political donation into my personal account,” he said.
Malik: Did you hand over the money to Umno or Barisan Nasional?
Zahid: No.
Malik: Can politicians receive donations, or (only) Umno or Barisan Nasional?
Zahid: Politicians can receive donations and deposit it in their personal account or in a trustee’s account.
Malik: I put it to you that the money you received, the RM6 million from Datasonic Group, was for approving a contract.
Zahid: I disagree.
Zahid is standing trial on 47 charges of money laundering and criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving millions from Yayasan Akalbudi and accepting bribes for various projects during his tenure as home minister.
Twelve of the charges are for CBT, eight are for corruption and the remaining 27 are for money laundering.
For the charges related to the supply of passport chips, it is alleged that he received RM6 million from Datasonic Group’s company director Chew Ben Ben on April 26, 2017.
In his defence on May 27, Zahid told the court that as home minister, he had no power to award contracts through direct negotiations, stating that only the finance ministry could do so.
He also said he planned to build a religious school in his Bagan Datuk constituency.
However, he said Yayasan Akalbudi’s account was frozen by the authorities and construction of the school was halted.
The hearing before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues.