KUALA LUMPUR: The prosecution in Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's corruption trial today ticked off the defence witness for not answering questions during cross-examination.
Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Raja Rozela Raja Toran was not amused with the situation and reminded the witness, Dr Sabri Zainudin Zainul, who was Zahid's senior private secretary, that he was not in a coffee shop.
The drama unfolded when Raja Rozela zoomed in on the witness' claims that Zahid had told him that he was dissatisfied with his former executive secretary, Major Mazlina Mazlan.
Raja Rozela questioned whether Sabri was present when Zahid instructed Mazlina to use Yayasan Akalbudi's (YAB) cheque to pay for his credit card.
However, Sabri failed to answer the question despite being repeated several times, prompting Raja Rozela to seek the court's guidance.
"This is the fourth time I have repeated (the question). I am not sure whether the witness does not understand the question or declines to answer it," she said.
Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah then suggested that Raja Rozela rephrase her question, but the witness still did not answer the question.
Raja Rozela: You are under oath. You cannot fabricate your story. Sabri: I am not.
Raja Rozela: You are not answering my question. You were not there and not involved when Zahid instructed Major Mazlina to use the cheque.
Sabri: I disagree.
Meanwhile, Mazlina continued to be the focus of Zahid's corruption trial, where several of the defence witnesses went on to "attack" the credibility and work ethics of the former.
When he testified as the fifth defence witness, Sabri described Mazlina as an untrustworthy person with a bad work attitude. He also described how Mazlina had failed to obey Zahid's instructions.
Sabri's statement was echoed by Zahid's special officer, Datuk Mohd Kamal Abdullah, who later testified as the sixth defence witness.
Kamal, when taking the witness stand, testified that Mazlina tended to work in silos and did not respect her colleagues.
Zahid, in the earlier stages of his trial, had blamed Mazlina for YAB's mess.
The defence had described Mazlina as incompetent, careless and negligent.
The defence also said Mazlina, who managed Zahid's financial affairs, had made errors by making overpayments and underpayments from the foundation's account.
Zahid, 69, is facing 47 charges, including 12 for criminal breach of trust (CBT), eight for corruption and 27 for money laundering involving RM31 million of YAB funds. For the 12 CBT charges, Zahid is alleged to have used the funds to make payments for personal credit cards, insurance policies and licences for his personal vehicles, remittances to a law firm and contributions to the police football association.
The charge carries a maximum of 20 years' jail, whipping and a fine.