Former Selangor Mentri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo spent over RM6mil to renovate his bungalow in Section 7 here, the High Court heard.
The renovation was done to transform the bungalow into a Balinese concept home that included a garden, as requested by Dr Khir, said third prosecution witness Nasir Ismail, 55.
The freelance landscaper, who was a bankrupt between 1998 and 2008, was helping out his wife's company, Lina Ubersari Landscape and Pottery, at that time.
He told Justice Mohtarudin Baki that the payment was done in 11 or 13 installments, some paid by Ditamas Sdn Bhd director Shamsuddin Hayroni and some by Dr Khir himself.
"I asked him (Dr Khir) for an upfront payment of a RM250,000 as I did not have money to start the renovation work. He agreed, as long as I could deliver the results," he said, adding that subsequent payments were made at RM500,000 each time.
Nasir said there were no receipts and all the payments were in cash as he was a bankrupt and did not have a bank account.
After receiving the advanced payment, Nasir said he went to the Malaysian Department of Insolvency to arrange for his passport to go to Bali to source for renovation supplies.
He, however, admitted that he did not declare the payments he received to the department despite being a bankrupt.
(According to Section 38 (1)(b) and (1)(ba) of the Bankruptcy Act 1967, a bankrupt must submit an account of all money and property, the value of which exceeds RM500, which come to his hands for his own use).
Describing Dr Khir as a "busy man" who seldom visited the property site, Nasir said he had initially thought the bungalow belonged to Dr Khir but was puzzled when he found out later that the property belonged to Ditamas.
During a cross-examination by defence counsel M. Athimulan, Nasir said there were no documents to record the payment as the landlord (Shamsuddin) did not want to make any.
However, Nasir admitted that he had signed an agreement with Dr Khir, stating RM600,000 as the cost for the renovation in what he described as "a form of formality".
The situation turned tensed when Athimulan grilled Nasir for receipts of the alleged payments and said that Nasir did not have evidence to support his statement.
Court was adjourned to Monday after Athimulan asked for time for the witness to go through documents stating the renovation works he had done and to search for the account number of Lina Ubersari.
Dr Khir, 45, was charged with knowingly purchasing the properties at a muhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifch lower price than its original value from Shamsuddin in 2007 and is alleged to have committed the offence at the Selangor Mentri Besar's official residence on May 29.
He is liable to be jailed for two years, fined or both if he is found guilty.
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Source : The Star
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