How did businessmen’s donations fund luxury bungalows?

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Businessmen's Donations Allegedly Funnelled into Luxury Bungalows

Businessmen Junaith Asharab Md Shariff and Mubarak Hussain Akhtar Husin made substantial donations, RM5 million and RM2 million respectively, which were consolidated into RM7 million worth of fixed deposits. These funds were subsequently withdrawn by the law firm Lewis & Co and utilised to issue a cheque for RM5.9 million to purchase two bungalows in Country Heights, Kajang. The prosecution contends that these funds, originally designated for religious and charitable purposes such as building a mosque and a tahfiz school, were improperly diverted.
Alleged Misappropriation of Charitable Funds

The prosecution argues that the RM5.9 million used for the bungalow purchase did not genuinely serve charitable intentions. While the defence previously suggested that the funds were not proven to be from illegal sources, the prosecution countered by highlighting discrepancies in the stated purpose of the donations. For instance, Mubarak Hussain had previously testified that his donation was intended for Sekolah Menengah Ulul Albab in Melaka, contradicting the claim that both donations were solely for a mosque and tahfiz school in Bagan Datuk.
Questioning the Charitable Nature of Bungalow Purchase

The prosecution questioned the notion that purchasing luxury bungalows in an affluent area like Country Heights, Kajang, could be considered charitable. It was argued that the subsequent addition of a surau (Muslim prayer hall) to one of the properties did not legitimise the alleged manipulation of funds. Deputy public prosecutor Harris Ong Mohd Jeffery Ong asserted that transforming a portion of a bungalow into a prayer space does not absolve the accused of ill intentions, suggesting that such renovations were an afterthought, initiated only after investigations by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Law Firm's Role in Alleged Money Laundering Scheme

The law firm Lewis & Co, which handled the RM7 million in fixed deposits before issuing the RM5.9 million cheque, is central to the prosecution's case. The prosecution suggests that Ahmad Zahid Hamidi instructed the firm to place these funds into fixed deposits as part of an alleged money laundering scheme. This is further supported by the fact that Lewis & Co had previously been entrusted by Ahmad Zahid with 92 cheques totalling RM76.9 million over a two-year period.

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How did businessmen’s donations fund luxury bungalows?

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