SHAH ALAM: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic) instructed his former senior private secretary to issue a cover letter to extend the implementation period of the Foreign Visa System (VLN) and eVisa to Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB) for six years from 2019 to 2025, the High Court here heard.

       Ninth prosecution witness Datuk Muhd ？？Khair Razman Mohamed Annuar, who is now Deputy Secretary-General (Operations) in the Human Resources Ministry, said he was instructed by the former deputy prime minister to issue the letter, dated Feb 14, 2017, to the Home Ministry Secretary-General.

       "Along with the letter, I enclosed a letter from UKSB to Ahmad Zahid, with the title 'Extension of Implementation Period for VLN and Evisa System for Six Years from Oct 31, 2019 to 2025 Is In Line With The Development And Implementation Of The National Immigration Control System (SKIN)', dated Feb 8, 2017,” he added.

       He was reading out his witness statement during examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Zander Lim Wai Keong on Monday (March 7).

       During the hearing on Dec 22, the sixth prosecution witness, former Home Ministry secretary-general Tan Sri Alwi Ibrahim, told the court he was unhappy with Ahmad Zahid's decision to extend UKSB's contract for the implementation of the VLN system because it was made too early, as the expiry of the contract was still a long way off at that time.

       Muhd Khair, 56, said Ahmad Zahid also instructed him to issue two more cover letters to the Home Ministry secretary-general dated May 16 and June 16, 2017.

       He said the May 16 letter was for an application to extend the implementation period of the One Stop Centre (OSC) service contract for Visa Facilitation Services in China for six years.

       The June 16 letter, meanwhile, was on the proposed extension of the implementation period of the OSC service contract for Visa Facilitation Services in China for three years from May 15, 2018 to 2021.

       Meanwhile, eighth witness Datuk Abdul Halim Mohammad, 55, said he had signed a cover letter dated Oct 24, 2016 which was forwarded to Alwi regarding the application for approval to extend the VLN and eVisa contracts for a period of six years to UKSB.

       "This cover letter is a routine (matter) handled by the minister's office to confirm that the letter has reached the minister's office," said Abdul Halim, formerly Ahmad Zahid’s political secretary.

       Ahmad Zahid, 69, is facing 33 charges of receiving bribes amounting to S$13.56mil from UKSB as inducement for himself, as an official of a public body namely home minister, by extending the contract of the company as the OSC service operator in China and the VLN system, as well as retaining the contract agreement with the same company to supply the VLN integrated system to the Home Ministry.

       In seven other charges, Ahmad Zahid is alleged, as the same minister, to have obtained for himself S$1,150,000, RM3mil, 15,000 Euros and US$15,000 from UKSB that had links to his official duties.

       The hearing before judge Datuk Mohd Yazid Mustafa continues Tuesday (March 8). – Bernama