KUALA LUMPUR: The 45-charges involving RM114 million against Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi are not only related to funds belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi but also those of him getting kickbacks for awarding contracts while he was Home Minister.
The Umno president was accused of receiving gratification from contractors in return for projects awarded for the MyEG Services Berhad ("MYEG"), supply of passport chips and providing one stop centre (OSC) when he was Home Minister.
Zahid was accused of receiving RM13 million from a company called Mastoro Kenny IT Consultant & Services for the MyEG project under his former ministry.
He was accused of getting the kickbacks from July 15, 2016 and Feb last year.
The money was allegedly paid to him so that he would help Mastoro Kenny to obtain MyEG projects.
MyEG is an e-service provider that provides a wide range of government services including those related to the traffic police, the National Registration Department and the Immigration Department.
On charges related to the supply of passport chips, Zahid - who is also former deputy prime minister, was accused of getting RM5 million on April 26, 2017 from the director of Syarikat Data Sonic Group Berhad.
The contract reportedly worth RM318.75 million, was awarded to Datasonic Technologies Sdn Bhd in 2016.
The same company has also obtained a government contract to supply Malaysian passports until 2021.
According to the charges, Zahid received RM6 million from Datasonic director Chew Ben Ben on Apr 26 last year.
The money was said to have been transferred to an account belonging to law firm Lewis and Co.
Zahid is also facing two charges under Section 16(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act for receiving the RM6 million, in two transcations, as bribe to approve the project for Datasonic.
He faces a maximum 20 years’ jail sentence and a fine of up to RM30 million.
Late last year, Zahid had announced new Malaysian passports with enhanced features such as facial recognition and biometrics.
Zahid was also accused of receiving RM2 million last year from Azlan Shah Jaffril, a director of Profound Radiance Sdn Bhd, as inducement to appoint them to operate the One Stop Centre (OSC) to process work permits for Pakistani and Nepali workers.
He has claimed trial to all 45 charges of criminal breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of power involving over RM114 million.
The Bagan Datuk member of Parliament was hit with 10 counts of CBT, eight counts of receiving graft, and 27 for money laundering.