Najib's SRC trial: 'Unsure' BNM officer exasperates defence

KUALA LUMPUR: The defence lawyers in former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's corruption trial faced an exasperating time confirming facts with a Bank Negara Malaysia's (BNM) officer who was part of a raid for evidence against their client. 

BNM manager Azizul Adzani Abdul Ghafar, 41, who was cross-examined by lawyer Harvinderjit Singh over the documents he helped seized during a raid on the Ambank building on Jalan Raja Chulan here, in 2015, met many questions with, "Saya tak pasti (I'm not sure)".

Azizul and three others were the search officers tasked with seizing documents related to bank accounts belonging to Najib and SRC International. 

Questioned about documents, filing systems and comparing signatures, he often said he wasn't sure. 

Even when asked if the raid was part of the special task force to investigate 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), Azizul said he did not know. 

"Wasn't the task force reported to much fanfare in the news then?" asked lawyer Harvinderjit, referring to the task force formed back in May last year, which was made up of officers from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Attorney-General’s Chambers, Bank Negara, police and lawyers.

"Tak pasti, tak pasti, tak pasti!" the lawyer was heard muttering loudly, after a series of questions yielded no clear answers during the cross examination. 

During a recess break, a prosecutor explained that the documents Azizul Adzani's team was instructed to seize did not have Najib's name on it, suggesting that the officers did not realise the gravity of the raid they were working on. 

During examination in chief, Azizul said the raid was part of an investigation under Section 4 of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (Amlatfpuaa) 2001.

The second prosecution witness said the evidence obtained included four folders of documents related to the opening of Najib's accounts, three more folders with documents for opening SRC International's accounts and one folder for opening an account for a subsidiary of SRC International, Gandingan Mentari Sdn Bhd. 

The accounts mentioned were the ones tied to Najib in the charges against him for receiving RM42mil in illegal funds on July 8, 2014. 

Najib faces seven charges involving RM42mil in funds belonging to SRC International.

On July 4, last year, Najib claimed trial to a charge of abuse of power and three counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT) linked to the 1MDB scandal.

He allegedly misappropriated RM42mil in funds belonging to SRC International.

On Aug 8, 2018, he appeared in court again for the second time and was charged with three counts of money laundering involving the same RM42mil.

The trial continues before Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali.- Star