BUTTERWORTH, Feb 21 — Former Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop denied in court today any knowledge of any political funding as he sought to distance himself from former aide Hasbie Satar, who is charged with laundering RM2.134 million in cash.

The Umno man, who was the second finance minister from 2004 to April 2008, had been called as a prosecution witness against Hasbie.

“I don’t know anything about political funding, because I’m not a politician, I’m more of a technical person,” Nor Mohamed told the Sessions Court here, under examination from deputy public prosecutor Anselm Charles Fernandis.

The 66-year-old, who was also a minister in charge of the Economic Planning Unit in the Najib administration until May 2013, has been asked if he knew “anything” about political funding, and the procedure for funds.

Nor Mohamed maintained he was ignorant of any political funding as he had not received any such funds during his term in office, nor had Hasbie, who was his political secretary, ever raised the issue with him.

“He never told me anything about political funding,” he testified.

“In my opinion, if there is any contribution, it should be directed to the proper account.”

Hasbie, 41, was charged with money laundering involving RM2.134 million at an apartment in Teluk Air Tawar at about 3.30pm on February 11, 2010.

Nor Mohamed also testified that he had no knowledge of Hasbie using an apartment the ex-minister had rented in Teluk Air Tawar, Penang to keep the RM2.134 million.

He said the apartment was for meetings with politicians in the area.

He added that Hasbie had usually informed him if he used the apartment when visiting Penang.

Hasbie was arrested while in possession of the money found in the apartment.

Hasbie’s defence lawyer, Badrul Munir Bukhari, asked in his cross-examination if Nor Mohamed knew about the distribution of allocation for the Permatang Pasir by-election in 2009, or if the money was a surplus from the allocation.

In reply, Nor Mohamed said he was only aware that Hasbie and another political secretary were tasked to safekeep the allocation funds given by Umno central.

“I am not sure how much the allocation was or if there was any surplus from the allocation,” he said.

He also denied knowledge of how Hasbie and the other political secretary kept or distributed the allocation.

Nor Mohamed had earlier testified on the documentation process in the of government projects.

Hasbie was charged under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001, and faces a fine of up to RM5 million or a maximum jail term of five years, or both upon conviction.

He is also being tried at the Shah Alam Court for 28 counts of money laundering involving RM935,000.

The case before Judge Ikmal Hishan Mohd Tajuddin continues on March 10.