Witness: Najib authorised SRC's Nik Faisal to manage his AmBank accounts

NAJIB TRIAL | The Kuala Lumpur High Court today heard that former premier Najib Abdul Razak had authorised SRC International Sdn Bhd director Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil Nik Othman Arif Kamil to manage his five accounts with AmBank.

In a lengthy testimony on the eighth day of Najib's corruption trial in relation to SRC International, Jalan Raja Chulan AmBank branch manager R Uma Devi said that Nik Faisal was listed by the former premier as an authorised signatory for the accounts.

According to Uma Devi, letters issued by Najib to the bank state that Nik Faisal was allowed to sign cheques for up to RM250,000, collect cheque books linked to the accounts, and to request for account statements.

"I confirm that Najib had appointed Nik Faisal as authorised personnel for the accounts number 201200220090481 and 20112022009694, and had allowed Nik Faisal to make requests regarding the accounts, including their balances, and to verify (sahkan) cheques amounting to RM250,000," 

Under cross-examination by deputy public prosecutor Suhaimi Ibrahim, Uma Devi testified that Najib opened three new accounts with the AmBank branch on July 31, 2013, and named Nik Faisal as a signatory.

She said bank also received a letter from Nik Faisal on the same day, ordering for all bank statements, correspondence and cheque books to be prepared for his collection.

Two of the earlier accounts, 201200220090481 and 20112022009694, were then closed on Najib's instruction on Aug 26, 2013, she added. 

The respective balances of RM82.63 and RM12,436,711.83 were ordered to be transferred to one of the new accounts, 20112022011880.

Money from SRC in Najib's accounts

In today's hearing, it emerged that RM64 million was credited into this AmBank account (20112022011880) between July 8, 2014 and Feb 10, 2015.

This includes a sum of RM27 million from Ihsan Perdana Sdn Bhd, a company that carried out corporate social responsibility works for SRC International.

According to Uma Devi (below), between the opening of account 20112022011880 on July 31, 2013 and March 9, 2015, a total of RM63.282 million was taken out in five transactions. 

This includes a transaction on Dec 29, 2014, in which RM27 million was transferred to Permai Binaraya Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Putra Perdana Construction Sdn Bhd.

Earlier, Uma Devi told the court that SRC International had instructed the bank to transfer RM35 million from its own account to Putra Perdana's Maybank account on July 8, 2014.

"I confirm that AmBank received a letter from SRC International, which was signed by Nik Faisal and Suboh Md Yassin, dated July 8, 2014, instructing AmBank to transfer RM35 million from account number 2112022010650 owned by SRC International, into a Maybank account owned by Putra Perdana Construction Sdn Bhd," she said.

Suboh, like Nik Faisal, is also a director of SRC International.

RM40m from SRC passed between three accounts in one day

According to Uma Devi's testimony, a sum of RM40 million was transferred on Dec 24, 2014, between the accounts of SRC International, its unit Gandingan Mentari Sdn Bhd, and Ihsan Perdana.

Both the accounts of SRC International and Gandingan Mentari had the same authorised signatories, namely Nik Faisal and Suboh.

The court also heard that on Aug 11, 2014, AmBank was instructed to credit RM3.282 million from Najib's bank account to pay two credit card receipts.

No mention was made, however, of the owners of these credit cards, nor what purchases were made.

Besides the transactions, Uma Devi also told the court of multiple transfers between the three new AmBank accounts opened by Najib on July 31, 2013. These transactions, she said, were made under the orders of Nik Faisal.

Uma Devi testified that one of the accounts, 2112022011906, was given a cheque issuance facility by the bank.

During the hearing today, she told the court of 13 cheques amounting to RM7 million issued from this account in 2015.

Among the recipients of the cheques were Vital Spire Sdn Bhd, Penang Umno and Johor Bahru Umno, Zulkarnain & Co, Centre for Strategic Engagement Sdn Bhd, UPKO, Trustees of Rumah Penyayang Tun Abdul Razak Registered, and one Manisah Othman.

The hearing will continue tomorrow with Uma Devi expected to return to the witness stand. - Mkini