KUALA LUMPUR: The Sessions Court was told yesterday that businessman Datuk Shamsubahrin Ismail had brought a few people, including a ‘DPP director’ and policeman from the Special Investigation Division (D9), to a meeting with former National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) director Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail.
NFC former executive secretary, Wan Zurina Saarani, 34, said Shamsubahrin told her that they were brought in to the meeting, which was held on Dec 14, 2011, to assist in the NFC case.
“On Dec 14, 2011, I sent a short messaging service (SMS) to Datuk Shamsubahrin that Datuk Mohamad Salleh wanted to hold a meeting with him (Shamsubahrin) and whether or not he could come.
“After Datuk Shamsubahrin replied saying that he agreed to have the meeting, he contacted me and told me that he was bringing a few people and they were DPP and policemen from D9 to help in Datuk Mohamad Salleh’s case,” she said during examination-in-chief by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) prosecution unit head Datuk Abdul Razak Musa.
Wan Zurina was testifying in the trial of Shamsubahrin who is accused of committing 17 money-laundering offences involving RM1.755 million.
The businessman also faces five counts of cheating Mohamad Salleh involving the same amount.
Wan Zurina also told the court that she began looking for information on Shamsubahrin after being instructed to make the first payment to the businessman.
“When instructed to make the first payment, I started asking who is this Datuk Shamsubahrin because Datuk Mohamad Salleh does not deal easily with anyone.
“As far as I know Datuk Mohamad Salleh, he is very careful with money and with the people he meet,” she added.
The 31st prosecution witness said she searched for information on the accused on her own initiative through the Internet.
“I looked for information in Google on the accused because I think we should know the people we are dealing with and also because I wanted to confirm from which company he was from,” she added.
The hearing before judge Rozilah Salleh continues today. — Bernama