KUALA LUMPUR (March 29): A former chief procurement officer at FGV Holdings Bhd said he expedited payments for the redecoration works on one of two luxury condominium units in the centre of FGV's lawsuit against its former chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad after he was urged by the latter's wife to settle the matter.

FGV also named its former chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Emir Mavani Abdullah as the other defendant in the suit, in which it is suing the duo for the purchase of the condos at above market price, which it alleged the duo had used mainly for personal purposes.

Datuk Abdul Razak Yunus, 64, who served as FGV chief procurement officer from 2014 to 2018, said on Tuesday (March 29) that Puan Sri Bibi Sharliza Mohd Khalid had contacted him several times from October 2015 to January 2016 to remind him to make payments for purchases made for the redecoration of the Troika condominium units.  

When asked by FGV counsel Andrew Chiew why he followed the orders, he said he felt compelled to as it came from the wife of the chairman.

"Bibi is the wife of the chairman so I had to (terpaksa) if I can use that term. If there were no issues (with the invoice) then it should be expedited," Abdul Razak said.

Abdul Razak also said Bibi Sharliza told him that she had paid deposits for furniture, and paid for curtains to be installed as well as electrical supplies, and that she wanted to move the items she bought immediately to unit A, which was said to be for Mohd Isa's use.

Subsequently, he contacted the finance department and asked them to expedite the payments as requested.

Chiew: Besides Bibi [Sharliza], [did] anyone else contact you?

Abdul Razak: No.

In its statement of claim, FGV alleged that Mohd Isa and Mohd Emir had taken steps to cause the acquisition of the two units of luxury condominiums that were earlier meant to provide accommodation for FGV's business associates or guests during their business trips to Kuala Lumpur.

However, after the units were bought, they were renovated, furnished, and maintained for the use of Mohd Isa and Mohd Emir and their family members.

Abdul Razak told the court that he had, at his discretion, approved the proposal that came from the chairman's office to get Amy Karya House of Style to undertake the interior redecoration works on the unit.

He, however, said he did not contact Mohd Isa directly to confirm if the proposal was from his office, as he had trusted that his colleagues at facilities management unit (FMU) department who forwarded him the proposal had already made sure that the recommendation came from the chairman's office.

"[Because it was recommended by] the chairman, I gave consideration ... the amount wasn't high and was within my authority limit. Also [it was stated] that there was an urgent need for work [to be carried out]," he said on why he approved the proposal.

When questioned by Mohd Isa's counsel Mavinthra Jothy Thillainathan if Abdul Razak had clarified or confirmed the matter with Mohd Isa, he answered that he did not.

Mavinthra: After the proposal, when you came through the chairman's office, did you contact Tan Sri [Mohd] Isa?

Abdul Razak: No.

Mavinthra: From the time you got the proposal until the works were over, did you contact Tan Sri [Mohd] Isa?

Abdul Razak: No.

Abdul Razak also agreed with Mavinthra that even if a recommendation had come by way of the chairman, company procurement policies and procedures of getting quotations from at least three different vendors would still have to be observed.

Two invoices were obtained for the redecoration works, both from Amy Karya. One was for the purchase of furniture for the living room, bedroom and kitchen totalling RM189,260. The other was for the purchase of electrical appliances and kitchenware totalling RM92,470.

In his witness statement, Abdul Razak said that after he approved the proposal, he was informed by his staff that Bibi Sharliza's sister, Shazarina Mohd Khalid, was involved with Amy Karya.

During cross-examination, however, he agreed that there was no documentation proof linking Shazarina to Amy Karya.

Mavinthra then referred to Amy Karya's company profile from the Companies Commission of Malaysia.

Mavinthra: [Do you agree] there is no reference to Shazarina or Bibi Sharliza?

Abdul Razak: Yes [I agree].

Mavinthra: [There is] no reference made to Tan Sri [Mohd] Isa.

Abdul Razak: Yes there is none.

He also agreed with Mavinthra that Shazarina was not an employee with Amy Karya and was acting as a representative of Bibi Sharliza to oversee the works, given the latter's busy schedule.

FGV filed the suit against Mohd Isa and Mohd Emir in November 2018. The group is claiming RM5.134 million from the duo for the purchase of the condominiums, and another RM3.283 million from Mohd Emir for the alleged misuse of five company cars and petrol benefits.

Judicial Commissioner Datuk Mohd Arief Emran Arifin is presiding over the case.