KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 30): Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi finished testifying in his corruption trial at the High Court on Tuesday (Aug 30). He had given evidence in his defence for 17 days since April 13.

Zahid had taken the witness stand upon being ordered to enter his defence, after the prosecution had proven a prima facie case against him.

The former deputy prime minister read from his sworn witness statements and was also examined and re-examined by the prosecution and his lawyers during that time.

After Zahid completed giving evidence, his lawyer Hamidi Mohd Noh told judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah that the defence will be calling 40 more witnesses.

Hamidi also informed the court that the defence will give the witness statements to the prosecution two weeks before each witness is poised to take the stand to testify.

Sequerah then asked the lawyer if it was necessary to call 40 witnesses, to which Hamidi replied it was necessary.

He said the witnesses would not spend too much time on the stand.

The trial is set to resume on Sept 19.

Earlier in the day, Zahid, addressing his 47 charges, said he did not misappropriate Yayasan Akalbudi funds for personal interest, despite being its founder.

He said funds which were purportedly donated to Yayasan Akalbudi, a charity arm which was started by him, were to be used for activities allowed under the foundation’s memorandum and articles of association (M&A) or its objectives.

"I cannot use the foundation's funds for personal interest," said the Umno president in response to questions during re-examination by Hamidi.

Another of his lawyers, Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Zainal, asked him about a RM6 million cheque he received from the former deputy managing director of Datasonic Group Bhd, Chew Ben Ben, and whether he was told it was a political donation.

Zahid said he was told it was a political donation, but he had given it to Yayasan Akalbudi.

Zaidi: Why was the contribution from Datasonic, which Datuk Seri (Zahid) received, credited into the account of (the legal firm of) Messrs Lewis & Co and not used for political activities?

Zahid: My Lord, any political contribution, even for my personal activities as a politician, I place them in the account of Messrs Lewis & Co as the Akalbudi trustee to be channelled for activities that are allowed under the M&A to meet Akalbudi’s objectives.

Zahid has maintained that these cheques which were given to him were not for personal use but for political purposes, which he then used for Yayasan Akalbudi.

Zahid is facing 47 charges — 12 for criminal breach of trust, eight for corruption, and 27 for money laundering — involving RM31 million belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi.

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