Another RM14.5mil in Najib’s name

The 21st witness: Uma Devi arriving at the Kuala Lumpur court complex for Najib’s trial.

KUALA LUMPUR: Some RM14.5mil was credited into a bank account belonging to Datuk Seri Najib Razak whilst millions were circulated among his various AmBank accounts, the High Court heard.

AmBank branch manager R. Uma Devi testified that account statements showed that the amount

was transferred into account 2112022011898, which is under Najib’s name.

“I confirm RM10mil was transferred into the account on July 8, 2014, RM1mil was deposited on July 23, 2014, and RM3.5mil was transferred on Feb 11, 2015,” she said.

The witness was asked to confirm the Ambank account statement referred to by DPP Datuk Suhaimi Ibrahim during examination-­in-chief yesterday.

On Wednesday, Uma Devi revealed that RM64mil was transferred into Najib’s AmPrivate account bearing the number 2112022011880 between July 8, 2014, and Feb 10, 2015.

She also identified a letter from then SRC International Sdn Bhd CEO Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil, dated March 3, 2015, which instructed three of those accounts – 2112022011898, 2112022011880 and 2112022011906 – to be closed, with the money in those accounts to be moved into Ihsan Perdana Sdn Bhd’s account.

Ihsan Perdana is the corporate social responsibility unit of SRC International.

Nik Faisal had been appointed by the former prime minister as an authorised personnel to manage his three bank accounts in AmBank.

To additional questions by ad hoc prosecutor Datuk V. Sithambaram, Uma Devi said Najib did not file any record or notification to the bank regarding any errors, irregularities, discrepancy, unauthorised withdrawal and fraudulent transactions.

The 21st witness said there were no records of Najib taking any action against the bank for wrongful or unauthorised transactions.

When asked on the purpose for issuing statements by the bank, Uma Devi said it was for customers to check their transactions on a monthly basis, and if there were any irregularities the customer could come back to the bank within 14 days.

Earlier, she was shown four mandate letters given to Nik Faisal by Najib, and another letter was Nik Faisal acknowledging the mandate letters.

“These mandates are for Nik Faisal to run the transactions, to collect cheque books, bank statements and provide written instruction on bank drafts and overdrafts in favour of the three accounts held by Najib,” she said, adding that the mandates given to Nik Faisal have not been withdrawn.

During cross-examination by Najib’s counsel Harvinderjit Singh, Uma Devi agreed with a suggestion that the bank would hold the money during a transaction if compliance was not adhered to.

To another question, the witness said account holders were liable to the transactions involving their bank accounts even if the holders did not receive bank statements.

She said the liability was in the terms of contract between customers and the bank.

Najib is facing seven charges relating to abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving RM42mil belonging to SRC International.

The hearing before Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali continues today.

The court is expected to hear a motion filed by Najib to declare the seven charges against him as defective.-Star