KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): The High Court was told that the road tax and insurance for 20 vehicles belonging to former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi amounting RM107,509.55 was paid from Yayasan Akalbudi Foundation funds, between January and September 2015.

Allianz General Insurance agent Ahmad Izhan Abd Rashid, 40, said the payments were received through three Affin Bank cheques belonging to the foundation from Zahid's personal assistant, Major Mazlina Mazlan.

The 14th prosecution witness said the cheque dated Jan 22,2015 was for RM24,980.55, another cheque for RM43,645 was dated April 15,2015, while the third was dated Sept 22,2015, for RM38,884.

"The cheques were written in my name because after I deposited the cheques, I will withdraw some amount for the road tax because the payment was made in cash to the Road Transport Department (JPJ).

"I would also withdraw a certain amount of money to be deposited in a current account belonging to Maya Consultant Services (which belongs to Ahmad Izhan), for the purpose of paying car insurance premiums, ” he said when reading out his witness statement during examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Lee Keng Fatt on Monday (Dec 9).

Ahmad Izhan said this on the ninth day of Zahid's trial on 47 charges - 12 for criminal breach of trust (CBT), eight for corruption and 27 for money laundering - involving tens of millions of ringgit in funds belonging to Akalbudi Foundation.

The witness, who has been an agent for the insurance company since 2006, said the former deputy prime minister took 39 car insurance policies from him and they were for 20 vehicles, including 18 luxury vehicles such as BMW X5, Mini Coopers S, BMW 320i (A), Mercedes Benz CLS350 and a BMW R1200 GS motorcycle.

Prior to this, Allianz General Insurance branch manager Fang Suat Lim told the court that Zahid took four types of insurance policies, namely a "private car policy", a "motorcycle policy", an "enhanced road warrior policy" and a "bike warrior policy".

The trial's 13th witness said the nominees for the insurance were Zahid, his wife, Datin Seri Hamidah Khamis, and their children, Nurulizwani, Datuk Nurulhidayah and Ahmad Syafiq Hazieq.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Izhan told the court that he would go to Zahid's house at Country Heights, Kajang to hand over the insurance policies and road tax of the vehicles.

When questioned by Zahid’s lawyer, Hamidi Mohd Noh, Ahmad Izhan concurred with the counsel that the ink used to sign and write the particulars on the three cheques was not the same.

Ahmad Izhan said he also agreed with Hamidi that the cheques were pre-signed cheques.

When re-examined by Lee, the witness said he knew the three cheques were "pre-signed cheques" as Mazlina told him that she would get Zahid to sign the blank cheques, and she would fill the necessary particulars, to expedite the matter.

The hearing before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues on Tuesday (Dec 10). - Bernama