A ROAD Transport Department (RTD) assistant director told the High Court in Kuala Lumpur today that a Honda Civic Hybrid valued at RM118,485 was registered to former Felda chairman Shahrir Abd Samad on December 31, 2013.

Zaharudin Zainuddin, 51, of RTD headquarters Vehicle Licensing Division in Putrajaya, said the white car was registered as an individual private vehicle.

“The vehicle bearing registration number JPD 545 belongs to Shahrir Ab Samad, at the address of 17, Jalan Seruling, Taman Perbadanan Islam, 80250 Johor Baru,” he said.

He was reading out his witness statement during examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Natrah Fareha Rahmat at the trial of the former Johor Baru MP, who is facing a charge of failing to declare to the Inland Revenue Board a RM1 million cheque received from Najib Razak, dated November 27, 2013.

The 19th prosecution witness said, based on a search on MySikap JPJ system, the vehicle was registered by a distributor and was still owned by Shahrir, with no details changed since the date of purchase.

In cross-examination by counsel Syed Faisal Al-Edros Syed Abdullah Al-Edros, representing Shahrir, that the car was used by Taman Kebun Teh Umno branch, the witness replied: “I don’t know.”

Zaharudin agreed with the lawyer that the RTD system did not record the intended user of the vehicle, only information on the owner.

On August 8, Sutera Auto Sdn Bhd account executive Rozana Khalid, 43, told the court that Shahrir had paid for the car in full by cheque, dated December 21, 2013.

Maybank Damansara Heights assistant manager, Fazilah Omar, 47, who also testified today, said a Public Islamic Bank cheque in Shahrir’s name amounting to RM115,000, dated December 9, 2013, was deposited into the Maybank account of the former Felda chairman.

“Based on the Maybank statement in the name of Shahrir, I confirm the balance in the Maybank account stood at RM65,810.38 on November 28, 2013.

“On December 9, 2013, RM115,000 via a cheque was deposited into the account (Maybank),” Fazilah said.

Maybank Desa Sri Hartamas branch assistant manager Muhammad Zamzuri Mohd Zain, 53, today confirmed that Shahrir made a remittance of RM69,090 from his Maybank account to a Public Bank account in the name of YM Auto Wheels Enterprise on April 1, 2014.

However, he did not know the purpose of the transaction.

Shahrir, 72, is charged with money laundering, by not stating his real income in the income tax return form for the assessment year 2013, which is a violation of section 113(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act 1967.

He is charged with committing the offence at LHDN, Duta Branch, Government Office Complex, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim, on April 25, 2014, under section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, which provides a maximum fine of RM5 million, or imprisonment for up to five years, or both if found guilty.

The hearing before Judge Muhammad Jamil Hussin continues tomorrow. – Bernama, October 3, 2022.