The criminal trial of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak involving the alleged misappropriation of funds from SRC International Sdn Bhd enters day 78 today at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysiakini brings you live reports of the proceedings.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Former minister Jamil Khir released from the witness stand
- Jamil Khir agrees that Arab donation was hushed up, kept from public
- Ex-minister tells the court that Najib asked Saudi Arabia for a donation
- Jamil Khir denies that Saudi ruler only promised non-monetary support
- King Abdullah didn't state the amount of donation - ex-minister
- Ex-minister, prosecution spar over Saudi ruler's donation
- Normal for late Saudi king to bestow lavish gifts, says ex-minister
- Ex-minister: I heard late Saudi king promising financial aid to Najib
- Direct transfer of Saudi money was to avoid 'complications' - witness
- Ex-minister Jamil Khir Baharom begins testifying as fifth defence witness
Thank you for following Malaysiakini's live report
1.30pm - Thank you for following our live report today.
Proceedings adjourn until Thursday
12.15pm - Proceedings adjourned to Thursday as counsel Shafee Abdullah told the court that the sixth defence witness, Anifah Aman would not be ready to testify tomorrow.
Former minister Jamil Khir released from the witness stand
12.10pm - Former minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom is released from the witness stand.
This follows after a brief re-examination by lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.
Jamil Khir agrees that Arab donation was hushed up, kept from public
12.07pm - Former minister in the prime minister's department Jamil Khir Baharom agrees that the alleged Arab donation to then premier Najib Abdul Razak was hushed up and kept from the public.
The fifth defence witness says this during cross-examination by DPP V Sithambaram.
Jamil Khir also disagrees with Sithambaram's assertion that if King Abdullah had indeed promised to give this donation to Najib in Jan 2010, then it amounted to interference by Saudi Arabia in Malaysia's democratic election.
Sithambaram: But this (alleged donation to Najib) was hushed up and kept from the public?
Jamil Khir: Agree.
Ex-minister tells the court that Najib asked Saudi Arabia for a donation
11.57am - Former minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom tells the court that it was the government through then premier Najib Abdul Razak who asked Saudi Arabia for a fund contribution.
When questioned by DPP V Sithambaram whether Malaysia through the then prime minister had sought a donation from Saudi or was it Saudi which offered it, Jamil says: "We know it as a request."
He adds that to his knowledge the financial request was never discussed in the cabinet.
"As far as I'm concerned, none," he says.
King Abdullah didn't state the amount of donation - ex-minister
11.50am - Former minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom testifies that King Abdullah Abdulaziz Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia did not state during the 2010 meeting the amount of money that he would be donating to the then PM Najib Abdul Razak.
The king also did not say who would send the donation to Najib, he says when asked by deputy public prosecutor V Sithambaram.
Ex-minister, prosecution spar over Saudi ruler's donation
11.46am - Former minister in the prime minister's department Jamil Khir Baharom and DPP V Sithambaram engages in verbal sparring over the truthfulness of an alleged promise of donation by then Saudi Ruler King Abdullah Abdulaziz Al-Saud to then premier Najib Abdul Razak on Jan 11, 2010.
During cross-examination, Sithambaram asserts that there was no truth that there was such a promise given on Jan 11, 2010, while Jamil Khir counters that King Abdullah did give the promise to Najib.
Sithambaram: I say that your testimony that there was such a discussion (between King Abdullah and Najib over the donation) on Jan 11, 2010, in relation to the 13th General Election is not true?
Jamil Khir: Disagree.
Sithambaram: I say that King Abdullah (allegedly) stating that the donation would be sent (to Najib) soon (after the informal Jan 11, 2010, meeting between Najib-led Malaysian delegation and King Abdullah at Riyadh) is not true.
Jamil Khir: Disagree.
Jamil Khir also disagrees with Sithambaram's assertion that he had given false testimony over King Abdullah allegedly having promised to transfer the donation into Najib's private account.
Jamil Khir denies that Saudi ruler only promised non-monetary support
11.43am - Former minister in the prime minister's department Jamil Khir Baharom disagrees with the prosecution's assertion that the late Saudi Ruler King Abdullah only promised non-monetary support to then premier Najib Abdul Razak.
The fifth prosecution witness says this during cross-examination by DPP V Sithambaram.
Sithambaram: I say that the meeting on Jan 11, 2010, (between Najib and King Abdullah in Riyadh) only had King Abdullah personally give assurance to Datuk Seri (Najib) that His Majesty (King Abdullah) would only give support so that Datuk Seri can continue to administer this country (Malaysia) as a good example of a (moderate) Islamic country.
Jamil Khir: King Abdullah gave support including financial (support).
Sithambaram: There was never any time on Jan 11, 2010, that King Abdullah gave support via financial donation.
Jamil Khir: King Abdullah's assurance was financial that day.
Sithambaram: I suggest that is not true.
Jamil Khir: I disagree.
11.35am - Proceedings resume after an hour break, with the prosecution expected to cross-examine fifth defence witness, former minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom.
Proceedings adjourn for a short break
10.30am - High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali allows proceedings to adjourn for an hour until 11.30am.
This is to allow the prosecution to go through the amended copy of fifth defence witness Jamil Khir Baharom, who was also a former minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of Islamic affairs.
Earlier, DPP V Sithambaram informed the court that they were only served with an amended copy of Jamil Khir's witness statement this morning.
Normal for late Saudi king to bestow lavish gifts, says ex-minister
10.25am - Former minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom (below) testifies that it's a norm for King Abdullah to offer gifts beyond one's expectation.
"I was also gifted with a pen containing a diamond. Usually (this kind of gift) is a mark of respect. To him (the king), this is normal.
"If he gives a Rolex watch, it's hard to find a similar watch in the market," he says during examination-in-chief by lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.
Ex-minister: I heard late Saudi king promising financial aid to Najib
10.17am - Former minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom testifies that he was right behind then Saudi ruler King Abdullah Abdulaziz Al-Saud and former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak when the monarch promised to transfer financial aid into the then premier's personal account.
During examination-in-chief by lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah (below), the fifth defence witness says that he could hear every word of discussion between King Abdullah and Najib, the words translated into Arab and English by their respective interpreters.
Jamil Khir testifies he was part of the Najib-led Malaysian delegation that took part in an informal meeting with King Abdullah at Riyadh on Jan 11, 2010.
He says that the promise of financial aid to Najib was made as he, Najib and King Abdullah were walking away after the informal meeting was concluded.
Shafee: Can you hear every discussion between King Abdullah and Najib? Can you hear everything?
Jamil Khir: While moving away (from the informal meeting), I was right behind Najib at the time. (My) Position was the same as King Abdullah's interpreter, and I was behind Najib. We could hear what was communicated by King Abdullah and Najib's response.
Jamil Khir adds that he could understand Arab language due to his educational background in Islamic religious studies and the Arab language.
Ex-minister Jamil Khir finishes reading witness statement
10.05am - Former minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom has wrapped up reading his nine-page witness statement.
Direct transfer of Saudi money was to avoid 'complications' - witness
9.59am - Then Saudi ruler King Abdullah Abdulaziz Al-Saud (below) chose to transfer financial aid into then premier Najib Abdul Razak's account in order to avoid complications of how political organisations spend the money, a former minister testifies.
Former minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom says this while reading out from a prepared witness statement during examination-in-chief by lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.
The fifth defence witness testifies that King Abdullah promised this to Najib just after they had an informal meeting at Riyadh on Jan 11, 2010.
"I was made to understand that the funds were transferred into the personal account of Najib Razak to streamline the political journey of Najib Razak and that King Abdullah was also concerned that direct transfer into any political organisation entities would complicate way the funds are spent," Jamil Khir says.
Jamil Khir says he was part of the Malaysian delegation with Najib who attended the informal meeting on Jan 11, 2010.
Ex-minister Jamil Khir Baharom begins testifying as fifth defence witness
9.49am - Former minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom begins reading out from his witness statement as the fifth defence witness.
9.42am - Former minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom enters the witness stand and takes his oath before giving his testimony in the defence stage of Najib Abdul Razak's RM42 million SRC International trial.
Proceedings begin
9.38am - Najib Abdul Razak enters the dock as proceedings begin.
9am - Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak enters the Kuala Lumpur High Court and takes a seat at the front row of the public gallery.
Also in court awaiting proceedings to begin are DPP V Sithambaram and other DPPs, as well as members of the accused's defence team.
Former minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Jamil Khir Baharom is set to testify as the fifth defence witness on the 78th day of Najib Abdul Razak’s RM42 million SRC International trial today.
The accused former prime minister’s lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah informed the Kuala Lumpur High Court of this at the end of proceedings yesterday, which ended just after midday.
Yesterday during examination-in-chief by Shafee, fourth defence witness Syed Omar Syed Mohammad Al Saggaf, who was former Malaysian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, testified that he was made to understand that then Saudi ruler King Abdullah promised financial aid to then premier Najib for the 13th general election (GE13) in Malaysia.
Syed Omar testified that this understanding was given to him just after an unofficial meeting at Riyadh on Jan 10, 2010, between a Malaysian delegation led by Najib and King Abdullah.
However, while under cross-examination by DPP V Sithambaram yesterday, Syed Omar admitted that it was Najib who informed him (Syed Omar) about King Abdullah’s offer of financial aid for GE13 in Malaysia.
In previous proceedings, Najib’s defence had relied on the notion that the accused utilised the RM42 million that was transferred into his bank accounts between December 2014 and February 2015, because the money was part of a donation from the Saudi royal family, among others.
Proceedings before Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali are expected to resume around 9am this morning. - Mkini
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