“As a Muslim, I would have rejected the contribution if it was from illegal means,” the former deputy prime minister and home minister said when re-examined by his lawyer, Hamidi Noh.

The prosecution did not call Wong Sang Woo @ Wong Shuh Chain, better known as Paul Wong, to give evidence as he could not be traced.

However, Wong had given a statement to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in 2019 and it was tendered under Section 32(1) of the Evidence Act.

Zahid’s lawyer also did not object to the statement being admitted as evidence.

In the statement, Wong said he made the contribution to the foundation upon Zahid’s “request” at a dinner function in 2015.

Zahid is standing trial on 47 charges of money laundering and criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving millions from Yayasan Akalbudi, and accepting bribes for various projects during his tenure as the home minister.

Twelve of the charges are for CBT and eight for corruption.

The RM10 million constitute three of the 27 money laundering charges, totalling RM65 million, faced by the Bagan Datuk MP.

The cheques were delivered to law firm Messrs Lewis & Co which, in turn, deposited them into the firm’s client account.

A substantial portion of the money was then used for fixed deposits under the firm’s name.

The hearing before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues.