Najib consented to land deal, Deepak tells court

The Kuala Lumpur High Court was told that Najib Abdul Razak had in 2006, as the then-defence minister, consented to the transfer of a 223.3 acre (89.332ha) piece of land in Bukit Raja, Selangor from Awan Megah Sdn Bhd to a nominee company owned by businessman Deepak Jaikishian.

However, Justice Zabariah Mohd Yusof did not allow Deepak to produce the letter dated Sept 25, 2006, from Awan Megah to Najib as evidence, as he did not file them earlier to the court as part of his bundle of documents during case management.

Purportedly, as testified by Deepak today, Najib had consented to this deal and wanted the Defence Ministry deputy secretary-general to look into the transfer.

Deepak told the court that he helped arranged the meeting between Awan Megah represented by its director, Senator Raja Ropiah Raja Abdullah, and Najib, through Najib’s wife Rosmah Mansor whom he had met earlier.

The businessperson told this in court in answering questions from lawyer Sivarasa Rasiah, that the transaction occurred as Awan Megah was unable to secure a land bond which is a condition set for it to proceed with the National Defence Study Institute project in Putrajaya.

Deepak, through his company Astacanggih Sdn Bhd, where he is a director, had named the Malaysian government, Syarikat Tanah Harta Sdn Bhd, Awan Megah and Cebur Megah Development Sdn Bhd, where he is also a director, as defendants.

However, Justice Zabariah had struck out the Malaysian government, Syarikat Tanah Harta, and Cebur Megah as defendants in the suit. Her decision had been upheld by the Court of Appeal.

The court was today told that Deepak had engaged several lawyers prior to this but they had discharged themselves, before appointing Sivarasa(right) today.

Justice Zabariah also today ruled that there should not be any mention of any political parties involved.

When cross-examined by lawyer Shashidharan Menon, representing Awan Megah, Deepak agreed that he does not know whether Awan Megah or Cebur Megah had secured the said land.

He also agreed that he sought a refund from Awan Megah, after he claimed that the company had not fulfilled their end of the bargain.

[More to follow]