The criminal trial of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak involving the alleged misappropriation of funds from SRC International Sdn Bhd enters its 12th day today at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
Malaysiakini brings you live reports of the proceedings.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- 'RM1m special PM allowance by the book'
- 'Talk slower, please'
- Najib shakes cop's hand as he enters court
'RM1m special PM allowance by the book'
11.40am - The RM1 million special allowance that Najib Abdul Razak received as prime minister was in accordance with the law, according to a witness.
Prime Minister's Department deputy chief accountant Zarina Yusuf, the prosecution's 27th witness, also says that Najib made RM22,000 a month as prime minister until April 2018.
It was only in May 2018, Zarina tells deputy public prosecutor Izzat Fauzan, that Najib made just RM6,627.09, prorated for his nine days in office.
His pay, she adds, was bumped up from the RM18,000 a month he received as deputy prime minister.
Najib's salary was deposited into his Affin Bank account.
'Talk slower, please'
10.30am - A moment of levity is seen in court as the rapid delivery of the 25th witness, Prime Minister's Department (Parliamentary Affairs) secretary Daman Huri Nor, forces prosecution and defence lawyers to ask him to slow down.
"Please slow down as we are trying to write it down. Thank you," Najib's lawyer Harvinderjit Singh says, before sitting down.
Taken aback, Daman continues his testimony at the same speed, prompting deputy public prosecutor Mohd Ashraf Adrin Kamaril to remind him that both the prosecution and defence cannot keep up.
The witness continues speaking rapidly, which causes the defence to calmly remind him to slow down yet again.
"Daman, usually you see Yang Arif listening to the story first, but the rest of us need to write.
"When you are testifying, please observe our hands as we write," defence lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah reminds the witness.
Daman finally slows down, and testifies on various government appointments prior to the 14th general election.
Najib shakes cop's hand as he enters court
10.25am - Najib enters the dock as proceedings begin before judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali.
10.08am - Clad in a dark blue suit, Najib Abdul Razak enters the courtroom and takes a seat in the front row of the public gallery.
The former premier also takes the opportunity to shake hands with a police officer in court as he waits for proceedings to begin.
Earlier, he attended a hearing before Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah in relation to his 1MDB trial.
This was in relation to the prosecution's bid to postpone the 1MDB trial, so as to avoid any clash with the ongoing SRC International hearing.
Attorney-General Tommy Thomas, who also attended the hearing before Sequerah, makes his way into the courtroom.
Sequerah had ruled that the 1MDB trial will commence on Aug 19.
Soon after, Najib's lead counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah joins the other members of the defence team.
The trial of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, involving the alleged misappropriation of funds from SRC International Sdn Bhd, which is being presided over by judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali, is set to kick off at 9.30am.
The defence will cross-examine Ambank Remittance Centre’s Rentas (real-time electronic transfer of funds and securities) Unit manager Wedani Senen.
Wedani, the 24th witness, confirmed Tuesday that a total of RM4 billion was transferred from the Retirement Fund Incorporated (KWAP) account to SRC International’s Ambank account between August 2011 and March 2012.
Relying on Rentas documents, among others, she said that RM2 billion was transferred to SRC International on Aug 29, 2011 in four transactions.
Another RM2 billion was transferred into the same account on March 28, 2012 in a single transaction.
On the same day, Nazlan allowed an application from the prosecution to begin proceedings at 9.30am today due to hearing at a separate court relating to Najib’s 1MDB trial.
The separate High Court, presided over by judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah, is set to hear the prosecution’s bid to postpone the 1MDB trial so that it will not clash with the current hearing.
Previously, the 1MDB trial was fixed to begin on May 14.
The court also previously heard testimony from 23rd witness Habibul Rahman Kadir Shah on how he received RM2.5 million from Najib, via law firm Zulqarnain & Co, to gather political intelligence.
Habibul, a member of Najib’s inner circle, said the money was for “political defence operations, used (to obtain) political intelligence and political goodwill.”
[More to follow] - Mkini
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