Why were Yayasan Akalbudi donations made in cash, not cheques?

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Yayasan Akalbudi Donations Handled in Cash, Raising Judicial Scrutiny

The High Court judge presiding over Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's trial questioned the unusual method of purportedly millions of ringgit in donations from Yayasan Albukhary to Yayasan Akalbudi being handled in cash. Instead of direct cheque transfers, the funds were allegedly converted into cheques via a moneychanger, a process that has drawn judicial inquiry into its necessity and transparency. Ahmad Zahid faces multiple charges, including criminal breach of trust, money laundering, and bribery, with the 27th money-laundering charge specifically involving the conversion of RM7,511,250.20.
Cash Conversion Process Detailed by Witness

A moneychanger, Omar Ali Abdullah, testified that individuals he identified as being from Yayasan Albukhary delivered cash to him at various locations, including hotel lobbies and shopping malls. In one instance, a significant sum, possibly amounting to RM1.5 million, was reportedly contained within a piece of luggage. Omar Ali stated he then converted a total of RM7.5 million in cash, designated as donations for Yayasan Akalbudi, into 35 cheques made payable to the law firm Lewis & Co.
Judicial Inquiry into Transactional Method

The presiding judge explicitly questioned the rationale behind this complex cash-to-cheque conversion process. He posed that if the donations were indeed from Yayasan Albukhary to Yayasan Akalbudi, a direct cheque transfer would have been a more straightforward and conventional method. The judge sought clarification on why cash, allegedly stuffed into bags, was the chosen medium, rather than a simple cheque.
Defense Cites Lack of Investigation and Source Confirmation

Ahmad Zahid's defence lawyers argued that the investigators failed to probe this specific aspect of the transactions. They contended that the answer regarding the cash handling method could only be provided by Yayasan Albukhary itself, which was not called to testify. The defense challenged the prosecution to present evidence confirming that Yayasan Albukhary did not, in fact, make these donations, asserting that the prosecution's claims were unsubstantiated without such an investigation. It was also confirmed that Yayasan Albukhary has no relation to Ahmad Zahid or his brother.

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Why were Yayasan Akalbudi donations made in cash, not cheques?

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