KUALA LUMPUR, 16/04/2019. Reliable witness, Manager from BNM, Azizul Adzani Abd Ghafar, are seen arrive at the High Court today for attending the Former Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak trial on seven charges involving RM42 million of SRC International Sdn Bhd (SRC International) funds. Pix by Malay Mail / Hari Anggara.
DAY four of Najib Razak’s SRC International trial saw its first flashpoint today when Attorney-General Tommy Thomas and defence lawyer Harvinderjit Singh clashed on the prosecution’s style of questioning a witness.
The incident happened when DPP Suhaimi Ibrahim was re-examining the second witness, Azizul Adzani Abdul.
Azizul led a team from Bank Negara Malaysia in a raid at AmBank on Jalan Raja Chulan, Kuala Lumpur, on July 6, 2015, to seize documents on accounts owned by Najib, SRC International and Gandingan Mentari.
Harvinderjit interjected several times on Suhaimi’s style of questioning, which sparked off the clash.
Harvinderjit: Are my learned friends (the prosecution) trying to coach the witness on the answers?
Suhaimi: No, this is my style of questioning.
Tommy: Yang Arif, this is just the style of Suhaimi, to question this way. They (defence) have been questioning the witness for about four to five hours (aggressively) and we didn’t say anything.
We only wanted to ask six general questions. Maybe my learned friend has not been doing this as long as us because we have been doing it for 42 and 43 years respectively.
Harvinderjit: Yes, I may have been doing this for a shorter time than my learned friend (Tommy) but they shouldn’t be questioning that way.
At this point, the judge stepped in and asked Suhaimi to continue with his questioning.
The DPP asked another question before dismissing the witness.
Azizul was earlier cross-examined by Harvinderjit after he produced a copy of a police report he lodged after leading a raiding party at AmBank.
Harvinderjit said Azizul stated in his police report that this case (following the raid at AmBank) should be investigated under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLA).
Harvinder: You as (and I don’t believe you) a raiding officer, on your own came up with a conclusion that is AMLA based on these documents.
Azizul: Maybe.
Harvinder: Come on, tuan, you are not being very honest. I have cornered you here. Have you been briefed by any other party to come to this trial to give false information?
Azizul: No.
It was at this point that Suhaimi began his re-examination of the witness to which Harvinder objected.
The lawyer said prosecution should only refer to matters raised during cross-examination, adding that Suhaimi should refer to the answers by the witness during cross-examination before asking more questions.
In SRC trial, BNM manager denies ‘hiding something’ as Najib’s lawyer suggests
KUALA LUMPUR — A Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) manager denied in court today that he was being briefed by certain quarters to not tell the truth in the hearing of the alleged misappropriation of SRC International Sdn Bhd funds involving former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Azizul Adzani Abdul Ghafar, who is manager of the national bank’s Financial Intelligence and Enforcement Department, said he also disagreed with Najib’s counsel Harvinderjit Singh’s suggestion that he was hiding something in connection with the case.
When referred to a police report which he lodged after conducting the raid at the Jalan Raja Chulan Ambank branch on July 6, 2015, Azizul Adzani said he also knew that the report he made should be true.
Harvinderjit Singh : At 10.04 pm, July 6, 2015, after conducting the raid,you went to the Tun HS Lee police station, which was about 34 minutes after receiving the last document from R. Uma Devi (Jalan Raja Chulan Ambank branch manager).
Azizul Adzani : Right
Harvinderjit : You went to H.S. Lee police station to lodge a report for an offence suspected under Section 4 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA), meaning that at 10.04 pm, you already knew that investigation was made under Section 4 of AMLA , where did you get the information from?
Azizul Adzani : Based on the documents that were seized.
Harvinderjit : You put in the section, not the investigating officer?
Azizul Adzani : Right
Harvinderjit: You did a review of the documents in 34 minutes and found there was an offence under Section 4 of AMLA, but you are not the investigating officer. You did not make any call to (investigating officer) Farhan?
Azizul Adzani : Right
Harvinderjit : What were the documents that were seized which made you to come to that opinion?
Azizul Adzani : I cannot remember.
Harvinderjit : Did you receive briefing from any quarters to attend this hearing and to not tell the truth?
Azizul Adzani : No
Harvinderjit: I put it to you that your testimony in court is not true?
Azizul: No
Harvinderjit: Are you hiding something?
Azizul: No
Najib, 66, is facing three counts of criminal breach of trust, one charge of abusing his position and three counts of money laundering over SRC International Sdn Bhd funds amounting to RM42 million.
The hearing before High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali is in progress. — Bernama
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