Ex-SRC director’s testimony largely hearsay, says lawyer

 Najib Razak's senior counsel, Shafee Abdullah, says Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi’s testimony cannot be corroborated.

Lawyer Shafee Abdullah (left) told the High Court the testimony by former SRC International Sdn Bhd director Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi is inadmissible.

KUALA LUMPUR:

 Senior counsel Shafee Abdullah told the High Court today that former SRC International Sdn Bhd director Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi’s testimony was largely hearsay and inadmissible, as key claims attributed to absent defendant Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil could not be corroborated.

Representing Najib Razak in a civil suit filed by SRC International and its subsidiary, Gandingan Mentari Sdn Bhd, Shafee argued during cross-examination that Shahrol’s account of an alleged conversation with Nik Faisal could not be verified.

Shafee: Nik Faisal, clearly, is not in the country.

Shahrol: Correct.

Shafee: So, what you have stated – that Nik Faisal conveyed certain information to you and to the board – are statements which the court cannot verify from Nik Faisal. Isn’t that correct?

Shahrol: Correct.

Shafee argued that Shahrol’s claims, specifically those suggesting that Nik Faisal had conveyed matters said to originate from Najib, amounted to double hearsay, rendering them inadmissible in court.

Asked if he had attempted to locate Nik Faisal, Shahrol conceded that he had not, despite acknowledging that the former CEO’s input could have supported his account.

Shafee argued that without Nik Faisal’s presence, Shahrol’s reliance on Nik Faisal’s alleged statements could not stand.

In his witness statement, Shahrol attributed numerous statements to Nik Faisal, claiming that Nik Faisal had conveyed certain information to him and the SRC International board.

He said he had to follow Nik Faisal’s instructions because Nik Faisal acted as Najib’s proxy, liaising with SRC directors and handling Najib’s company and personal bank accounts.

Shahrol is one of six individuals whom Najib added as third parties to the suit brought to recover RM42 million allegedly misappropriated from the company’s accounts.

Najib contends that Shahrol, along with former SRC International directors Ismee Ismail, Suboh Yassin, Azhar Osman Khairuddin, Che Abdullah @ Rashidi Che Omar and Nik Faisal, should all share responsibility for any damages payable to the two companies.

Najib, 72, has been jailed since Aug 23, 2022, following his conviction for misappropriating RM42 million in SRC funds. He was sentenced to 12 years’ jail and fined RM210 million.

On Jan 29, 2024, the Federal Territories Pardons Board halved his jail term to six years, and reduced his fine to RM50 million.

On Dec 26 last year, the High Court sentenced Najib to 15 years in prison and fined him RM11.387 billion following his conviction in his 1MDB case, with the prison term to follow immediately after he completes his current jail term.

Lawyer Kwan Will Sen represented SRC, and Chong Yik Loong represented Shahrol.

The hearing before Justice Raja Ahmad Mohzanuddin Shah Raja Mohzan continues tomorrow. - FMT