Ditamas director Shamsuddin Hayroni has admitted to discrepancies between his 2009 statements and one on June 7 this year to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

He was continuing his testimony today on the sixth day of the corruption trial of former Selangor menteri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo.

NONE "There are three differences: One, in my previous statement I said that the house was not sold below market price, but now I say it is sold below market price,” he told the Shah Alam High Court.

"Two, in my previous statement I said that (landscape artist) Nasir Ismail was appointed by me. In my recent testimony I said he was appointed by Khir.

"Three, I said last time that I sold my house to cover my losses. Now I am saying that it is not true. I sold because I had no option."

However, Shamsuddin failed to elaborate when DPP Abdul Wahab Mohamed asked why such discrepancies had arisen.

"The latest statement is the same as my testimony is court. This is the truth," was his answer.

Shamsuddin's reversal of his earlier statements came just one day after two charges against him were mysteriously dropped on the first day of trial on June 6.

‘Mere fabrication’

Touching upon the discrepencies during his cross-examination afterward, defence counsel Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin then cast doubts over Shamsuddin’s reliability as a witness.

“If you can not tell the truth about Nasir’s appointment in your 2009 statement, why should we believe you when you say that Khir told you to buy the house?

khir toyo mansion 060709 “I put to you that when you say that Khir told you to buy the house, it was merely your fabrication,” posited the defence attorney.

However Shamsuddin remained steadfast. "It was not a fabrication,” said the witness sternly.

During his cross-examination, Kamarul also implied Shamsuddin’s purchase of the mansion situated on lots 8 and 10, off Jalan Suasa in Section 7 Shah Alam was because the businessman saw an oppotunity to get himself into the MB’s good books without any coercion on Khir’s part.

He proposed that Shamsuddin went to the house initially on his own cognisance to scout out the house for his own potential purchase, to which the company director agreed.

Kamarul suggested that after being informed by Sumadi Ismail who helped market the mansion for owner Saiful Azir Shahabudin, that Khir was interested in the same house, Shamsuddin as a businessman saw an “opportunity to curry favour” with the then-MB.

Kamarul also tried to suggest that it was Shamsuddin who pursued the matter with Khir further, though the company director refuted this.

He argued that Shamsuddin then bought the house, taking the risk that the MB may not buy it from him.

However the Ditamas director refuted his argument, maintaining that he was told by Khir to buy the house.

Quizzed by Kamarul about the exact wording used by Khir that made him think that the MB wanted him to buy the house, Shamsuddin said that while Khir did not literally order him to do so, he understood from the then-MB’s words, facial expressions and body language that such was Khir’s wishes.

“Din, You do it,” related Shamsuddin was what Khir said to him after Sumadi had refused to buy the house when asked by the Sungai Panjang state assemblyperson because of other commitments.

Judge Mohtaruddin Baki then adjourned proceedings until 9am tomorrow.