Ex-driver: I saw actress bank in RM1mil

By Hafiz Yatim

Actress Zahida Mohamed Rafiq’s former driver claimed that he was present when she made a bank deposit of RM1 million, said to have been received from Rural Development Minister Shafie Apdal.

Speaking to the media for the first time, Noor Azman Azemi (centre in photo), 38, claimed that this was the single largest cash deposit by Zahida that he had witnessed.

"I was surprised when I saw the amount of cash deposited as I did not know that she was carrying so much, (or) that the money that was given by my (then) employer (Shafie).

"Normally, Shafie would meet Zahida once a week where he (the minister) would give money. The amount varied from RM100,000 to RM200,000.

“But the most is the RM1 million deposited last year," said Noor Azman.

His story came to light after he lodged a police report on March 13 in response to accusation that he absconded with RM200,000 of Zahida’s money.

The contents of his police report were revealed by PKR Women’s wing chief Zuraida Kamaruddin on April 18.

Since then, both Zahida and Shafie (left) have denied the allegations and threatened legal action.

Remanded for three days

Speaking at a press conference organised by PKR today, Noor Azman, an Umno Youth member, claimed Shafie had hired him to be Zahida’s driver three years ago that he had accompanied the actress each time she deposited money from the minister.

Noor Azman said his relationship with Zahida had turned sour because he had allegedly supplied certain sensitive information about her to Shafie.

He said he had told Shafie about the matter because he could not bear with the burden of the information any more. Following this, he resigned as Zahida’s driver on February 29.

He claimed that Zahida lodged a police report against him three days later, accusing him of absconding with RM200,000.

However, he lodged a police report of his own on March 13, claiming that Zahida had made a false police report against him.

"Subsequently I was remanded for three days by the police and questioned by the special branch," he said.

Noor Azman claimed that upon his release, several unidentified individuals had harassed him and his house was broken into.

Also present at the press conference was Zuraida, PKR political bureau member Sivarasa Rasiah and party information chief Latheefa Koya and former Malay pop star Dayangku Intan.

Dayangku Intan is a PKR member and is Noor Azman aunt.


Msiakini News

------------FMT in Bahasa Malaysia -------
Menteri deposit RM1 juta ke akaun Zahida

Fazy Sahir | May 16, 2012

Purata sebulan empat kali, menteri berkenaan akan masukkan duit secara tunai ke dalam akaun Zahida, dakwa bekas pemandu Noor Azman Azemi.

PETALING JAYA: Seorang bekas pemandu peribadi mendakwa Menteri Pembangunan Wilayah dan Luar Bandar Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Afdal pernah deposit wang sebanyak RM1 juta ke dalam akaun pelakon wanita, Zahida Mohd Rafik.

Noor Azman Azemi yang pernah berkhidmat sebagai pemandu peribadi Zahida selama tiga tahun mendakwa menteri berkenaan mendeposit wang sejumlah itu ke dalam akaun artis terbabit.

Angka itu merupakan jumlah yang tertinggi sepanjang beliau berkhidmat dengan Zahida, katanya dalam sidang media PKR di sini hari ini berhubung dakwaan skandal yang hangat diperkatakan dewasa ini.

Katanya, purata sebulan empat kali Datuk Seri (Shafie) akan masukkan duit secara tunai ke dalam akaun Zahida. Ia untuk menjelaskan bayaran kereta, rumah dan kad kredit milik artis terbabit.

“Baki wang itu akan diguna untuk belanja Zahida. Paling rendah Datuk Seri akan masukkan sebanyak RM100,000 sehingga RM200,000.

“Namun pada tahun lepas saya tersedar saya telah masukkan wang bernilai RM1 juta ke dalam bank,” katanya.

Hubungan Zahida dengan seorang pemuda

Noor Azman menjelaskan beliau cukup tertekan selama berkhidmat dengan Zahida dan mengakui berlaku pergaduhan kecil sebelum beliau membuat keputusan meletakkan jawatan sebagai pemandu peribadi artis terbabit.

Beliau turut mendakwa Zahida mempunyai hubungan dengan seorang pemuda dan memaklumkan perkara itu kepada Mohd Shafie.

“Saya cukup tertekan sepanjang tiga tahun bekerja dengan Zahida. Dah tiga tahun saya berlakon dan simpan segala rahsia dan keburukan. Ini juga salah satu sebab saya letak jawatan.

“Sebulan sebelum letak jawatan saya ada bergaduh dengan Zahida. Saya bagi tahu pada Datuk Seri Shafie, Zahida ada kaitan atau hubungan dengan seorang pemuda,” dakwa beliau.

Ujarnya, Mohd Shafie dan Zahida kerap bertemu di sebuah hotel berasingan di ibu negara.

Turut hadir dalam sidang media itu Ahli Parlimen Ampang, Zuraida Kamarudin; ahli keluarga Noor Azman, Tengku Intan Tengku Abdul Hamid yang dikenali sebagai Dayangku Intan (ibu saudara); Rosman Yahil (bapa saudara) dan peguam yang mewakilinya, Lateefa Koya.

Beliau tampil memberi kenyataan hari ini untuk membersihkan nama dan keluarganya ekoran satu laporan polis yang menuduh beliau melarikan wang bernilai RM200,000 milik bekas majikan.

Keluarga diganggu

Sementara itu, ibu saudara Noor Azman yang juga seorang artis terkenal suatu ketika dulu, mendakwa keluarganya mengalami gangguan daripada individu tidak dikenali sejak anak saudaranya bebas dari tahanan reman.

Polis menahan reman Noor Azman pada 13 hingga 16 Mac tahun ini untuk siasatan lanjut berhubung laporan polis yang dibuat ke atas bekas majikannya.

“Rumah kami diganggu kerana alamat kad pengenalan Noor Azman adalah alamat rumah saya. Saya tidak kenal individu yang buat gangguan itu, tapi sedar di antara jam 2.00 – 4.00 pagi mereka ada depan rumah. Tak tahu polis atau siapa,” kata Dayangku Intan.

Menurut Dayangku Intan, mereka sekeluarga tampil untuk membersihkan nama dan maruah bagi pihak kerabat DiRaja Kedah.

Zuraida ketika sesi parlimen bulan lalu mempersoalkan pemberian wang tunai sebanyak RM1.5 juta oleh Mohd Shafie kepada artis yang dikenali melalui filem Anak Mami, Zahida hanya dalam tempoh empat bulan sahaja.