KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 23): Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Tuesday (Aug 23) told the High Court that he was emotionless when he received cheques for RM13.25 million from textile businessman Junaith Asharab Md Shariff because they were for charitable purposes, and that he had never questioned the source of the funds.

Testifying in his own defence at his corruption trial before High Court judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, Zahid was questioned by Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Mohd 'Afif Ali over how he felt when he received the cheques.

Zahid said he felt no emotions as the money was to be used to build "Tahfiz schools" and a mosque.

He also said that he had never asked Junaith whether the money was stolen or borrowed from someone.

It is the prosecution's contention that the money was payment in advance as Zahid had promised Mastoro Kenny IT Consultant & Services that the company would secure MY EG Services Bhd (MYEG) projects worth RM50 million. Junaith is said to have an interest in Mastoro.

The cheques, allegedly received by Zahid from Junaith using a Maybank account belonging to Messrs Lewis & Co, are said to be gratification for Zahid's assistance as the then home minister for helping Mastoro secure MYEG projects that were under the ministry's purview.

Zahid was then asked whether any tax exemption had been given to Junaith since the money was claimed to be a charitable donation.

Zahid conceded that his defence team could not and did not produce the tax exemption receipt for the RM13.25 million given.

Mohd 'Afif: I put to you that throughout this trial, the defence has not put forth a document that shows that a tax exemption was given?

Zahid: I agree.

Separately, Zahid was also asked about a RM1.3 million "donation" he made to the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) football association.

Previously in the trial, Zahid's lawyer said he should be acquitted of the criminal breach of trust (CBT) charge for giving PDRM the donation in November 2015 using funds of Yayasan Akalbudi.

The defence asserted that Zahid was home minister at that material time and as such, PDRM was under his jurisdiction.

The prosecution pointed out that giving money to football teams did not necessarily mean it was a charity move and it did not help eradicate poverty as argued by Zahid's lawyer.

The prosecution stressed that a football club was not a charitable organisation.

However, on Tuesday, Zahid claimed that the RM1.3 million was not a charitable donation but a loan to the football club so that the club could pay its players who had their wages deferred for over four months.

Zahid was asked why he had given the money to this football club by DPP Nur Aishah Ahmad Zakiuddin. Reading out charitable organisation Yayasan Akalbudi's objectives, which are to help poor people and eradicate poverty, she pointed out the football club was not a charitable organisation.

Aishah: The objectives for which the foundation was established were for the eradication of poverty and for the poor… can you point out to me [how] the loan to football club is charity and for the poor?

Zahid: It's for welfare.

Aishah: You cannot give [Yayasan Akalbudi's] money to the football club and [say it is] only for poor people.

Zahid: I disagree.

She suggested that the footballers were not poverty-stricken and hence they were not charitable cases. Zahid retorted that when players are not paid, "they are poverty-stricken".

Zahid, 69, is facing 47 charges — 12 for CBT, eight for corruption, and 27 for money laundering — involving tens of millions of ringgit belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi.