Anwar denies receiving RM60 mln from Magnum
KUALA LUMPUR: Former Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday denied having received RM60 million from Magnum Corporation Bhd through several people, including his wife, Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
Anwar, when testifying in the trial of his defamation suit against Senator Datuk S. Nallakaruppan, also denied having received the money several times in cash and at several locations when he was still finance minister.
"It is not true that the money was sent to me or through a middle-person on my request," he said when questioned by Nallakaruppan's counsel, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.
Anwar, 68, filed the suit on Aug 25, 2008, in connection with a statement by Nallakaruppan, who is a former director of Magnum, in an article with the title "Anwar terima RM60 juta" (Anwar receives RM60 million) which was published in the Mingguan Malaysia and Sinar Harian newspapers.
He is the first witness in the trial and was brought to the court by several prison officers and personnel from the Sungai Buloh Prison.
Muhammad Shafee: "True or not that the money was received in stages?" Anwar: "Not true." Muhammad Shafee: "I put it to you that the money was given in different amount. There was RM1 million, RM2 million, RM7 million to RM10 million each time?"
Anwar: "I never received (the money)."
Muhammad Shafee: "I put it to you that there are times you received it personally?" Anwar: "I did not receive." Besides Wan Azizah, the individuals denied by Anwar to have received the money on his behalf included Shamsidar Taharin, who is the wife of Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali; Sukma Dermawan (Anwar's foster brother) and Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor (Anwar's former political secretary).
Among the places mentioned by Muhammad Shafee where Anwar used to receive the money were a tennis court, the official residence of the Deputy Prime Minister, which was then in Damansara, at the Magnum office and Tivoli apartment in Bangsar which belonged to businessman Datuk T K Lim. Anwar, however, denied it all. Meanwhile, when crossexamined by his lawyer, N. Surendran, Anwar said Nallakaruppan acted like being hysterical when he was not nominated as a candidate in the Ijok by-election in 2007.
"He (Nallakaruppan) was really angry, like he was attacked by hysteria, because he was really hoping, although I explained the reason," he added.
The hearing before Judicial Commissioner Datuk Mohd Zaki Abdul Wahab continues on March 21 next year. - Bernama