The criminal trial of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak involving the alleged misappropriation of funds from SRC International Sdn Bhd enters its 30th today at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysiakini brings you live reports of the proceedings.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Nik Faisal asked me to sign off on RM5m to SRC subsidiary - witness
- Ex-SRC director says Nik Faisal contacted him from Shanghai
- 'I have no doubt that 'orang atas' referred to by Nik Faisal was Najib'
- Judge disallows Najib from taking off day to attend Parliament
- Najib wants to attend Parliament, seeks adjournment
- Ex-SRC director walks into witness stand with a cane
Nik Faisal asked me to sign off on RM5m to SRC subsidiary - witness
11am - Former SRC International director Suboh Md Yassin says he does not know why he signed an AmBank transfer instruction for RM5 million to subsidiary Gandingan Mentari Sdn Bhd.
Suboh (photo) tells the court that he was only following instructions from then-SRC International CEO Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil when he signed off on the transfer dated Feb 5, 2015.
Under examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Ishak Mohd Yusoff, Suboh testifies that Nik Faisal had signed the letter first before it was given to him.
Ishak: Looking at this, you were the director for both SRC International and Gandingan Mentari. Can you explain why you signed the documents?
Suboh: I was told... I was asked by Nik Faisal to sign.
Ishak: So you only followed (the request from Nik Faisal)?
Suboh: (Yes) I followed.
Ex-SRC director says Nik Faisal contacted him from Shanghai
10.55am - Former SRC International director Suboh Md Yassin testifies that then-CEO Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil called him from Shanghai in 2015.
The witness says that is based on what was displayed on his mobile phone when he received the call.
"According to the phone, it was from overseas, from Shanghai if I am not mistaken," he tells deputy public prosecutor Ishak Mohd Yusoff.
'I have no doubt that 'orang atas' referred to by Nik Faisal was Najib'
10.35am - Suboh Md Yassin tells the court that SRC International appointed Ihsan Perdana Sdn Bhd as its corporate social responsibility partner in 2014 without any resolution from the company's directors.
Suboh, a former SRC International director, says he had agreed to sign a letter dated Sep 3, 2014 to appoint Ihsan Perdana with the guidance of then-CEO Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil (photo).
The witness testifies that Nik Faisal told him that SRC International wanted to do CSR, and that "orang atas" (someone at the top) had agreed to it
"I have no doubt in my mind that when he referred to 'orang atas', he referred to Najib (Abdul Razak)," Suboh says.
He then tells the court that a directors' resolution to ratify the appointment of Ihsan Perdana was later signed in 2015 when he was in Bangkok.
Judge disallows Najib from taking off day to attend Parliament
10.27am - Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali refuses the application from lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah to adjourn today's trial so that the accused Najib Abdul Razak can attend today's Parliament sitting.
In a brief oral ruling, Nazlan says that there is no certainty when MPs actually vote on certain bills.
Shafee had argued that client needs to be present at the Dewan Rakyat to vote on two bills – one making it mandatory for all MPs to declare their assets, and another to lower the voting age to 18.
"I am against the request for adjournment, as Parliament proceedings would go on for several weeks. It is not certain when the vote is (on any of the two bills)," the judge says.
"It is not an issue of the court obstructing the accused from attending Parliament.
"The important point is that the accused MP is also facing seven charges (that is the subject matter of today's trial). I refuse the application for adjournment."
Deputy public prosecutor Ishak Mohd Yusoff then resumes his examination-in-chief of former SRC International director Suboh Md Yassin.
Najib wants to attend parliament, seeks adjournment
9.45am - The SRC International trial starts with lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah (photo) seeking an adjournment of today's hearing.
Shafee tells the court that his client Najib Abdul Razak needs to attend today's Parliament sitting, citing that a motion of "immense importance" is going to be debated today.
He is referring to a bill to compel all MPs to declare their assets, which is expected to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat today.
However, the bill is only expected to be tabled for first reading at about 5pm, making it unlikely to be voted on today.
Najib enters dock as hearing starts
9.44am - Najib Abdul Razak enters the dock as proceedings begin.
Also seen in court is Attorney-General Tommy Thomas, who heads the prosecution.
Walking with a cane, ex-SRC director enters the witness stand
9.38am - Walking with a cane, former SRC International director Suboh Md Yassin (centre in photo) enters the court from the witness room. He is assisted by deputy public prosecutors as he enters the witness stand.
It is understood that proceedings may be slightly delayed as defence lawyer Harvinderjit Singh has another matter in a separate court.
Najib enters courtroom
9am - Clad in a blue suit, former premier Najib Abdul Razak enters the courtroom and takes a seat at the front row of the public gallery to await the beginning of proceedings.
He is seen conferring with his lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.
Who was behind the telephone call by a self-proclaimed MACC officer, whose urgings had sent then-SRC International director Suboh Md Yassin packing to Thailand out of fear of former premier Najib Abdul Razak?
Who were the unknown persons who not only arranged for Suboh and his wife’s flight from Bangkok to Abu Dhabi, but also paid for his one-week stay in the Rosewood Hotel?
These and other critical parts of Suboh's testimony are set to be further probed by both the prosecution and defence on the 30th day of Najib's RM42 million SRC International trial today.
When proceedings resume before Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali, deputy public prosecutor Ishak Mohd Yusoff is expected to resume his examination-in-chief of Suboh, the 42nd witness.
When the court last convened on June 20, Suboh delivered explosive testimony on why he fled Malaysia in 2015 and stayed overseas for three years, until after last year's general election.
The witness may be further probed over his testimony that he played no role in SRC International's decision-making, and that the company’s then-CEO Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil called all the shots with the approval of adviser emeritus Najib.
- Mkini
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