1MDB: These are not Najib's signatures, defence lawyer tells court

 

1MDB TRIAL | Najib Abdul Razak's defence team has contended that it was not his signature on five directors' circular resolutions (DCRs) for 1MDB to obtain a US$975 million (RM4.5 billion) loan from Deutche Bank AG.

However, MACC investigating officer Nur Aida Arifin disagreed and reiterated that the signature strokes on the five documents dated 2014 match the former premier's signature.

Najib's lawyer Wan Azwan Aiman Wan Fakhurddin and the prosecution's 49th witness were verbally sparring during today's RM2.27 billion 1MDB abuse of power and money laundering case against the accused.

The two clashing views were over the signatures in the five documents linked to the fourth abuse of power charge against Najib.

The fourth charge - which is part of the four power abuse and 21 money laundering counts - accused him of using his then public body position for gratification amounting to RM44,570,920.70.

The documents are linked to Najib allegedly abusing his power to enable 1MDB's energy arm to obtain the US$975 million loan.

Signature comparison

During proceedings before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah, Wan Azwan was comparing the signatures on the five documents versus another document bearing the confirmed signature of Najib.

While presenting the five documents in court, the lawyer argued that the signatures on them do not match Najib's authentic signature, due to the pen strokes on the DCRs.

While Aida agreed there were slight differences in the strokes on the five documents, she reiterated they ultimately belonged to Najib.

This is because her investigations showed that former 1MDB CEO Mohd Hazem Abdul Rahman told her during the investigation that fugitive businessperson Low Taek Jho (Jho Low) had brought these documents to Najib for the then premier to sign.

Wanted businessperson Jho Low

Wan Azwan: I say that the movement of the signatures are from the right then left. Do you agree or not (this is not Najib's signatures)?

Aida: (It is the) same.

Wan Azwan: I say it is not the same.

Aida: I disagree.

The MACC officer also disagreed with the defence counsel's contention that 1MDB's board of directors were misled by the alleged forged Najib signatures to believe that the then premier approved the transaction.

However, Aida agreed with Wan Azwan that the five DCRs were key documentary evidence in the power abuse case against Najib, the former chairperson of 1MDB's board of advisers.

1MDB had sought the US$975 million loan to buy back the sovereign wealth fund's shares in Aabar Investment PJS in 2014.

The trial before Sequerah continues on Monday.

Charges

Najib is on trial for four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering involving RM2.27 billion from 1MDB.

For the four abuse of power charges, the former Pekan MP allegedly committed the offences at AmIslamic Bank Bhd’s Jalan Raja Chulan branch in Bukit Ceylon, Kuala Lumpur, between Feb 24, 2011, and Dec 19, 2014.

On the 21 money laundering counts, Najib purportedly committed the offences at the same bank between March 22, 2013, and Aug 30, 2013.

1MDB is fully owned by the Minister of Finance Incorporated (MOF Inc).

Najib was chairperson of 1MDB’s board of advisers.

The accused was first charged on Sept 20, 2018, and his criminal trial began on Aug 28 2019. - Mkini