Bersatu not informed of RM1 million withdrawal, court told in Syed Saddiq trial

The High Court was today told that Bersatu was not notified of the RM1 million withdrawal by its youth wing. 

Bersatu finance officer I, Muhammad Zulhelmi Zaulkafly, 30, who had worked at the Bersatu treasurer's office since 2016, said his party never received any application from the youth wing regarding the withdrawal of the money.

The 20th prosecution witness said this during examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Mohd Shahrom Idris at the trial of Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, who faces four charges of criminal breach of trust and money laundering.

Asked by Shahrom whether he knew about the withdrawal of RM1 million, Zulhelmi said no.

Zulhelmi, who regulates, administers and manages the party's financial affairs, said according to Clause 24 of the Bersatu constitution, expenditure in excess of RM500,000 must be approved by the party's Supreme Council, and if withdrawal are made, they must be recorded to check the balance in the account.

Shahrom: What will happen if it is not recorded?
 
Zulhelmi: A violation of Regulation 24, as we want to prevent financial leakage.
 
To a question from deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, the witness said that the trustees for the youth wing's account were Syed Saddiq, who was then the youth chief; Ahmad Redzuan Mohamed Shafi, who was then the wing's assistant secretary; and Rafiq Hakim Razali, who was the wing's assistant treasurer.

In his testimony earlier, Rafiq Hakim told the court that the withdrawal of RM1 million from the account on Syed Saddiq's instructions had not followed procedure, and that it was wrong as no paperwork was submitted for the money to be withdrawn from the bank on March 6, 2020.

Syed Saddiq, 29, was charged as the then youth chief, entrusted with the control of Armada funds, with abetting Rafiq Hakim with criminal breach of trust of RM1 million in funds belonging to the wing.

He was also charged with misusing property for himself, namely RM120,000 from the Maybank Islamic account belonging to Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise by causing Rafiq Hakim to dispose of the money at Malayan Banking, Jalan Pandan 3/6A, Taman Pandan Jaya between April 8 and 21, 2018.

He also faces two counts of engaging in money laundering activities through two transactions of RM50,000, believed to be the proceeds of unlawful activities, from his Maybank Islamic account into his Amanah Saham Bumiputera account.

He is accused of committing the offence at a bank at Jalan Persisiran Perling, Taman Perling, Johor Bahru on June 16 and 19, 2018.

The trial before judicial commissioner Azhar Abdul Hamid continues tomorrow.