Zahid’s defence team had earlier informed High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah that it would call 20 witnesses.
Lawyer Hamidi Mohd Noh told the court today the number of witnesses could be even higher than 43 as the court had refused an application to obtain statements recorded by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) from 18 witnesses offered by the prosecution to the defence.
On May 9, Sequerah refused Zahid’s application on grounds of public policy and public interest. Zahid has since filed an appeal.
Hamidi said this when asked by Sequerah as to why the number of witnesses had gone up when Zahid’s lead counsel, Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, had earlier given notice that the defence intended to call about 20 witnesses.
“The number could go up (even higher) as our application (for the MACC statements) has been refused and we are interviewing more potential witnesses to testify,” he said.
Deputy public prosecutor Raja Rozela Raja Toran stood up to inform Sequerah that they had completed their cross-examination of Zahid, but that the defence had yet to supply them with the witness statements of their witnesses.
Hamidi said the defence would provide statements to the prosecution 14 days before the witnesses took the stand.
The judge said the court had to fix additional trial dates now as more witnesses were likely to take the witness stand.
“Could I suggest parties block more dates next week,” he said.
Zahid will be re-examined by his lawyers on Monday and Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Zahid insisted that a RM1.3 million “advance” from Yayasan Akalbudi, which he heads, to the police football association seven years ago did not amount to misappropriation of funds.
Zahid, who was the then home minister, under whose jurisdiction the police force falls, said the payment was for its “welfare activity”.
He said he came to know from his son-in-law, Zul Hisham Zainal, that 45 police football association players and staff had not been paid their salaries and allowances for four months.
This, he said, made it difficult for them to pay house rents, car loans and to support their family members.
Under cross-examination by deputy public prosecutor Nur Aishah Ahmad Zakiuddin, Zahid disagreed that the RM1.3 million loan ran contrary to provisions in the constitution of the foundation.
Nur Aishah: (Do you) agree with me that the PDRM and the players are not poor?
Zahid: Disagree.
Nur Aishah: (Do you) agree with me that you committed CBT when you issued a
cheque for RM1.3 million from Yayasan Akalbudi funds.
Zahid: No.
The Umno president is standing trial on 47 charges of money laundering and CBT involving millions from Yayasan Akalbudi and accepting bribes for various projects during his tenure as the home minister.
Twelve of the charges are for CBT, eight for corruption and the remaining 27 for money laundering.