Witness says Shamsubahrin was paid RM1.7m
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 – The Sessions Court here today was told that a sum of RM1.7 million was paid to businessman Datuk Shamsubahrin Ismail, who is charged with cheating former director of National Feedlot Corporation (NFC), Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail.
First prosecution witness, investigating officer ASP Mohd Nor Hasnimaizam Othman, 36, told the court that NFC finance manager, Hasimah Ahmad had informed him of the matter via telephone on Dec 16, 2011.
“Hasimah also informed me that the RM1.7 million payment was purportedly for the investigating officer involved in the NFC case,” he said in response to Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Prosecution Unit, chief, Datuk Abdul Razak Musa.
He said Supt Ravindan Singh Sarban Singh and ASP Nordin Md Nor were the two other officers involved in the case, apart from him.
He added that Hasimah was one of the witnesses in an ongoing embezzlement investigation on a NFC subsidiary sales manager.
He said during a recorded conversation on Dec 5 2011, Hasimah informed him that she had received a phone call from the bank regarding the payment to Shamsubahrin.
Mohd Nor Hasnimaizam said he did not receive the money from Shamsubahrin.
Shamsubahrin, 46, is charged with five counts of cheating Mohamad Salleh into agreeing to pay him (Shamsubahrin) a fee, at a restaurant in Bukit Tunku here on Nov 20 last year, in return for an advisory and consulting service.
He also faces 17 counts of money laundering amounting to RM1.755 million. Both the cases will be tried together.
Meanwhile, second witness, Bukit Aman Commercial Crimes Investigation Department, deputy director 1, DCP Datuk Tajuddin Md Isa told the court that the two other investigating officers did not receive the money as well.
He said on Dec 21 2011, Mohd Nor Hasnimaizam informed him that a sum of money had been given by an NFC officer to the Department’s investigating officer on the case.
“So I asked ASP Hasnimaizam and the two other officers if they had received the money from NFC.
“All three officers denied receiving the money and I advised ASP Mohd Nor Hasnimaizam to lodge a report on the matter,” he said.
Earlier in the proceedings, Judge Rozilah Salleh, who is presiding over the case, rejected the defence’ application to postpone the trial pending a High Court decision on an application to set aside and strike out the charges against Shamsubahrin.
The hearing resumes tomorrow. – Bernama
