DAY 84 | The criminal trial of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak involving the alleged misappropriation of funds from SRC International Sdn Bhd enters day 84 today at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysiakini brings you live reports of the proceedings.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Witness unsure if he met the real Saud Abdul Aziz in Riyadh
- I wasn't involved, so I don't want to be interviewed - MACC officer
- Jho Low referred to Najib as 'boss', says Rosman
- In hindsight, SRC name is toxic: witness
- Witness fears self-incrimination, refuses to answer further questions
2.36pm - Proceedings resume after lunch break.
Proceedings adjourn for lunch break, will resume at 2.30pm
12.52pm - Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali allows the application by lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah for an extended break.
Shafee says this is to allow MACC assistant commissioner Mohd Nasharudin Amir, who is the ninth defence witness, to bring to court the statement taken by MACC in regards to a person in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in Nov 2015.
The person, Saud Abdul Aziz, is supposedly the one who made four letters linked to the RM2.6 billion donation to then premier Najib Abdul Razak.
Witness unsure if he met the real Saud Abdul Aziz in Riyadh
12.45pm: An MACC investigation officer previously involved in the probe into the RM2.6 billion donation case is unsure whether the person he met in Riyadh in 2015 was really the person behind the four related letters bearing the name Saud Abdul Aziz.
Ninth defence witness Mohd Nasharudin Amir says this during examination-in-chief by lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.
Earlier, Nasharudin testified that between Nov 27 and 29, 2015, he was among a group of people that flew to Saudi Arabia to ascertain the truth behind the four letters linked to the alleged RM2.6 billion donation to Najib.
He said that among the group was MACC deputy chief commissioner Azam Baki and then Attorney-General Chambers’ DPP Dzulkifli Ahmad.
Dzulkifli later became MACC chief commissioner.
Nasharudin is answering Shafee's question on the person that was interviewed by him (Nasharudin) and another officer at Riyadh.
This person was allegedly the person behind the four letters.
Shafee: Who is this Saud Abdul Aziz?
Nasharudin: If according to the name, sounds like a big person (orang besar), of royalty.
Shafee: Was he a king or son of a king?
Nasharudin: I do not know.
Shafee: You met him.
Nasharudin: I am not sure if the person I met was Saud or not.
Nasharudin describes the place where the person was interviewed as a palace-like big mansion in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
I wasn't involved, so I don't want to be interviewed - MACC officer
12.25pm - MACC assistant commissioner Mohd Nasharudin Amir testifies that he did not wish to be interviewed by Najib Abdul Razak's defence before testifying as he (Nasharudin) was not involved in the RM42 million SRC International probe.
The ninth defence witness says this during examination-in-chief by lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.
Previously, the High Court denied the defence's application to interview Nasharudin before he testifies in court.
Nasharudin: I did not wish to be interviewed as I was not involved in the SRC investigation. Rosli (MACC investigating officer for the RM42 million SRC case) called me. I am not involved in the SRC probe so I do not need to give evidence.
Shafee: But you are giving evidence now.
Nasharudin: I was given a subpoena (to appear in court).
Shafee then informs him that it is up to the court to decide whether the testimony is relevant to the RM42 million SRC case or not, to which Nasharudin agrees.
12.05pm - Proceedings resume after the break, with MACC assistant commissioner Mohd Nasharudin Amir taking the stand.
Previously, the High Court refused the defence application to compel the MACC investigation officer to sit down for an interview with the defence before taking the stand.
Court takes a half-hour break
11.31am - High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali allows the application by lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah for a break as the defence needs to prepare for the next witness.
Earlier, the eighth defence witness Rosman Abdullah, who is also Putrajaya Perdana Bhd group managing director, had wrapped up his re-examination by the defence and had been released from the witness stand.
Jho Low referred to Najib as 'boss', says Rosman
10.58am - Wanted businessperson Jho Low (below) referred to then-premier Najib Abdul Razak as "boss", the High Court hears.
Putrajaya Perdana Bhd group managing director Rosman Abdullah says this during cross-examination by DPP V Sithambaram.
Sithambaram is asking the witness in relation to BBM chats between the witness and Jho Low in relation to the monetary flow of RM27 million into Najib's Ambank accounts.
Sithambaram: He (Jho Low) asked you to inform him (on outcome of transfer) so he could inform his boss.
Rosman: Yes, that is what he said.
Sithambaram: When Jho Low mentioned boss at the time, you knew the boss referred to Najib?
Rosman: Yes.
Sithambaram: You knew from previous communication with Jho Low that he referred to Najib as his boss?
Rosman: Yes.
Sithambaram: You also knew from Azlin (Alias, Najib's then-chief private secretary) that Jho Low had direct contact with Najib?
Rosman: Yes.
The cross-examination's line of questioning is in relation to the various millions of ringgit flowing into and out of PPB's subsidiary Putra Perdana Construction, with RM42 million allegedly transferred into Najib's accounts.
In hindsight, SRC name is toxic: witness
10.26am - In hindsight, the SRC name is toxic, Putrajaya Perdana Bhd (PPB) group managing director Rosman Abdullah testifies.
During examination-in-chief by defence counsel Farhan Read, the eighth defence witness says this in relation to the monetary flow of RM117 million from SRC International into the accounts of PBB's subsidiary.
The RM117 million money flow is allegedly linked to the RM42 million that flowed into Najib Abdul Razak's personal bank accounts between Dec 2014 and Feb 2015.
Earlier, Rosman says that wanted businessperson Jho Low arranged for the RM117 million monetary flow.
"Back in 2014, my knowledge of SRC is limited. Now in hindsight, the name SRC is toxic. Anything to do with SRC is a crime," Rosman says.
Witness fears self-incrimination, refuses to answer further questions
10.24am - Putrajaya Perdana Bhd group managing director Rosman Abdullah refuses to answer Najib Abdul Razak defence’s questions pertaining to RM117 million that flowed into the company's subsidiary.
The eighth defence witness raises this during examination-in-chief by defence counsel Farhan Read.
Farhan is asking further questions to Rosman in relation to the flow of RM117 million into PPB's subsidiary company.
The RM117 million is allegedly linked to the RM42 million that was banked into Najib's personal accounts between Dec 2014 and Feb 2015.
"However, having benefit of hindsight, my answer to some of these questions may incriminate me. I seek the court's guidance," Rosman says from the witness stand.
Farhan then cites Section 132 of the Evidence Act that a witness not excused from answering questions that may incriminate witness.
Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali then directs Rosman to answer the defence's questions, adding that the witness will not be prosecuted unless he gives false answer.
10.13am - Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak enters the dock as proceedings begin at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
Putrajaya Perdana Bhd (PPB) group managing director Rosman Abdullah (below) is set to continue his testimony on the 84th day of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's RM42 million SRC International trial today.
The eighth defence witness will resume his examination-in-chief by the defence team when proceedings before Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali resumes around 10am.
Proceedings start later than the usual 9am as Rosman has to send his daughter to the airport for a 9am flight to Australia.
Yesterday, the court heard from Rosman that 1MDB-linked fugitive Low Taek Jho or Jho Low was a smooth and effective scammer.
During yesterday's proceedings that began around 2.30pm, seventh witness, AmBank senior vice-president in charge of compliance, Nazaruddin Md Kasim, gave a brief testimony over bank documents linked to remittances into AmBank account 694 between 2011 and 2013.
The brief oral evidence did not delve into the specific amount involved in the remittances into account 694, which past proceedings revealed was one of Najib's older accounts.
The former finance minister's current trial of abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering of RM42 million from SRC is in relation to his AmBank accounts 880, 898, and 906. - Mkini
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