Bank filed reports over suspicious transactions to Bersatu, court told
Norazeanti testified that large and frequent transactions totalling RM19.5 million were deposited into Bersatu’s account between 2021 and the end of 2022, and that there were also doubts over transactions involving Mamfor Sdn Bhd.
KUALA LUMPUR - A bank officer told the High Court here today that Suspicious Transaction Reports (STR) were filed on almost all transactions involving Bersatu due to doubts over the nature of the transactions.
Bank Muamalat assistant branch manager at Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor Shah Alam, Norazeanti Miswan, 39, said it was the responsibility of bank officers to report any suspicious transactions or activities through a questionable activity report, or internal STR, to headquarters.
"However, I am not sure of the follow-up action or subsequent process as it is handled by headquarters,” she said as the ninth prosecution witness when questioned by deputy public prosecutor Noralis Mat during the trial of Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Earlier, Norazeanti testified that large and frequent transactions totalling RM19.5 million were deposited into Bersatu’s account between 2021 and the end of 2022, and that there were also doubts over transactions involving Mamfor Sdn Bhd.
She added that although the transactions were carried out by bank customers, any questionable activity must still be reported.
"Whether it is right or wrong is not the issue for me, but once there is doubt, it is our responsibility to report it… whenever something is out of the ordinary, I feel it is my duty to report it,” she said.
Responding to defence counsel Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad, Norazeanti agreed that the internal STR was a procedure to protect the bank from action by authorities such as Bank Negara Malaysia.
She also agreed that all transactions were recorded by the bank and nothing was concealed.
Norazeanti further agreed that cheques and supporting letters clearly indicated that contributions from Mamfor Sdn Bhd to Bersatu were transparent, and acknowledged that the donations were made to Bersatu and not to Muhyiddin.
Muhyiddin, 78, who was then Prime Minister and Bersatu president, is facing four charges of abuse of power involving RM225.3 million in connection with the Jana Wibawa project from three companies, namely Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, Nepturis Sdn Bhd and Mamfor Sdn Bhd, as well as Datuk Azman Yusoff for the political party.
He is alleged to have committed the offences at the Prime Minister’s Office, Perdana Putra Building in Putrajaya between March 1, 2020 and August 20, 2021 under Section 23(1) of the MACC Act 2009, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of five times the value of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
The Pagoh MP also faces three counts of receiving proceeds from unlawful activities amounting to RM200 million from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, which were deposited into Bersatu’s AmBank and CIMB Bank accounts in Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur between February 2021 and July 2022.
The charges were framed under Section 4(1)(b) read together with Section 87(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, which provides for a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment and a fine of five times the proceeds of unlawful activity or RM5 million, whichever is higher.
The trial before Judge Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin resumes on May 25. - BERNAMA
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