He walked up the stairs to the courthouse lobby accompanied by a handful of aides to the clicking sounds from press cameras.
Like yesterday, he carried two books in hand, the titles which were obscured by his hand.
And like yesterday, most of the sympathisers and supporters that had turned up for his charging last year were notably absent, bar one, a man who wore a bandanna covering the lower half of his face.
The former prime minister paused his walk to greet the bandanna-wearing man and exchange a few words.
Najib’s lead defence counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah arrived alone minutes later. Wearing a dark blue suit, he headed straight into the courthouse, his ear glued to his phone.
The lawyer told reporters yesterday that he will spend today cross-examining the prosecution’s second witness, Bank Negara Malaysia officer Azizul Adzani Abdul Ghafar.
Najib’s trial involves seven charges over RM42 million of SRC International, former subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Berhad.
LIVE: Day 3 of Najib’s trial
NAJIB Razak’s SRC International trial enters its third day today, with Bank Negara investigator Azizul Adzani Abdul Ghafar back on the stand.
Azizul, the second witness, testified yesterday that the central bank seized eight folders of documents from a raid at an AmBank branch in Kuala Lumpur more than three years ago.
Of the eight folders, four were related to accounts opened by Najib, three by SRC International and one by SRC International subsidiary Gadingan Mentari. The accounts were opened between 2011 and 2015.
Azizul also identified AmBank manager R. Uma Devi, from who he obtained the documents, and central bank investigating officer Ahmad Farhan Sharifuddin. Ahmad appointed Azizul on July 6, 2015 to carry out search and seizures.
The trial’s first witness, Companies Commission of Malaysia assistant registrar Muhamad Akmaludin Abdullah, testified yesterday that Najib was one of the directors in Yayasan Rakyat 1Malaysia, a foundation under SRC International.
Najib, along with former 1MDB chairman Lodin Wok Kamaruddin and Ahmad Shihab Wan Ismail, were appointed directors on January 11, 2013.
Akmaludin, under cross-examination by the defence, also confirmed that Azlin Alias, Najib’s special officer for economic affairs, was a Yayasan Rakyat 1Malaysia director up until he died in a helicopter crash in Semenyih on April 4, 2015, which also killed former minister Jamaluddin Jarjis.
The prosecution, led by Attorney-General Tommy Thomas, is expected to call another witness from the central bank today.
The Malaysian Insight brings you today’s proceedings live.
10am: Azizul said the AmBank raid on July 6, 2018, under AMLA (Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act) was his only involvement, adding that he did not know whether it was under a special task force or not.
9.57am: In the AmBank raid, Azizul said he was part of the investigation. Harvinderjit asks what were the instructions during the raid.
Azizul said he was asked to record his observations in writing.
9.50am: Harvinderjit asks whether seizure forms are requisite for each raid. Azizul confirms this.
From 2000 until 2008, Azizul said he worked in Bank Negara’s human resource department.
Harvinderjit asks whether it is common for Bank Negara officers to create money trail graph. Azizul said he does not know.
9.45am: Harvinderjit asks other than the raid, did Azizul carry out other raids? What other operations?
Azizul replied that they carried out about 20 in 2015. He participated in about 10 raids a year between 2008 and 2015.
9.40am: Attorney-General Tommy Thomas apologises for procedural problems over provision of copies to the defence.
Azizul Adzani Abdul Ghafar takes the stand. Defence lawyer Harvinderjit Singh begins the cross-examination.
9.39am: Najib enters the dock.
malay mail / the malaysian insight
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