The criminal trial of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak involving the alleged misappropriation of funds from SRC International Sdn Bhd enters its 27th day today at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysiakini brings you live reports of the proceedings.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- 'SRC told MOF it didn't pay back RM4b because account frozen'
- 'Najib signed gov't guarantee letter for RM2b loan to SRC'
- Cross-examination of ex-deputy cabinet sec-gen postponed
- Ex-PM enters court
'SRC told MOF it didn't pay back RM4b because account frozen'
10.32am - SRC International told the Finance Ministry in 2015 that it failed to pay back RM4 billion in loans from Retirement Fund Inc (KWAP) because its Swiss bank account had been frozen.
During examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Suhaimi Ibrahim, Finance Ministry officer Afidah Azwa Abdul Aziz testifies that representatives from SRC International said this during a meeting with KWAP.
The witness adds that then-Treasury secretary-general Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah (photo) was present at the meeting.
"In the meeting attended by Irwan Serigar, the Finance Ministry was informed that SRC International failed to pay back its debt as its account at Switzerland had been frozen.
"In the meeting, SRC International was told to reveal its financial standing and the (status of its) frozen account in Switzerland," she says.
SRC received RM4 billion in loans from KWAP – the first RM2 billion tranche in August 2011, and the second RM2 billion tranche in March 2012.
The government was the guarantor on both loans.
'Najib signed gov't guarantee letter for RM2b loan to SRC'
10.15am - Former prime minister and finance minister Najib Abdul Razak signed the government guarantee letter for the second RM2 billion tranche of the loan from Retirement Fund Inc (KWAP) to SRC International, the court hears.
Finance Ministry officer Afidah Azwa Abdul Aziz testifies that it is not usual practice for a government guarantee letter to be signed by the finance minister.
A guarantee letter, she says, is usually only taken up to the level of the second finance minister for approval.
Afidah says that an internal memorandum for the government guarantee to be presented to cabinet members was prepared on the same day – Feb 2, 2012 – that then-SRC International CEO Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil came to the ministry to discuss the second guarantee letter.
The draft of the internal memo then went through several layers of approvals on the same day – including by then-second finance minister Mohd Husni Hanadzlah – before it was taken to Najib, who signed it on Feb 3, 2012.
"Usually the Finance Ministry's procedure requires approval from the second finance minister only. But for this memorandum, I was ordered to take the memorandum for approval and signature of the finance minister.
"However, I was not informed why I needed to do that," she testifies under examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Suhaimi Ibrahim.
Afidah tells the court that she learned the memorandum was presented and approved by the cabinet in a meeting on Feb 8, 2012.
Cross-examination of ex-deputy cabinet sec-gen postponed
9.45am - Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali allows an application from the defence to postpone the cross-examination of retired cabinet deputy secretary-general Mazidah Abdul Majid (photo) to tomorrow.
The judge makes the ruling after lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said had just received two documents needed for his cross-examination of the 40th witness.
The declassified documents are related to Mazidah's witness statement, which touch on cabinet meetings chaired by then-prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.
The prosecution then calls its 41st witness, Finance Ministry Strategic Investment Department deputy secretary Afidah Azwa Abdul Aziz, to the stand.
Under examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Suhaimi Ibrahim, Afidah reads out from her witness statement.
Ex-PM enters court
9.44am - Najib enters the dock as proceedings begin.
9.04am - Clad in a light cream-coloured suit, former premier Najib Abdul Razak enters the court.
He is seen conferring with Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, who leads the defence team.
Also seen in court awaiting the beginning of proceedings is Attorney-General Tommy Thomas and other members of the prosecution.
The testimony of retired deputy cabinet secretary-general Mazidah Abdul Majid will prove crucial on the 28th day of Najib Abdul Razak's trial for alleged abuse of power, corruption and laundering RM42 million from SRC International.
As cross-examination of the 40th witness resumes before Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali this morning, attention will be focused on what she may further reveal on cabinet meetings chaired by the then-prime minister.
Of particular interest will be how the cabinet arrived at its decision to issue two government guarantees for the RM4 billion in loans to SRC International from Retirement Fund Inc (KWAP).
During examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Izzat Fauzan yesterday, Mazidah revealed that the cabinet did not engage in discussions before approving the resolutions to issue these government guarantees.
SRC International, a former subsidiary of 1MDB, was granted the first RM2 billion tranche of the loan from KWAP in August 2011, before receiving another RM2 billion in March 2012.
In February 2012, SRC International became a fully-owned entity of Minister of Finance Inc, which was headed by Najib, the then-finance minister.
Mazidah had testified that Najib chaired the cabinet meetings in August 2011 and February 2012 which led to the passing of the resolutions to issue the government guarantees.
This, she said, occurred despite the cabinet practice of ministers excusing themselves from discussions involving matters that may result in a conflict of interest.
- Mkini
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