Ex-MACC chief Abu Kassim suggested for Najib to be charged, court hears

Ex-MACC chief commissioner Abu Kassim Mohamed suggested to then multi-agency 1MDB taskforce for then prime minister Najib Abdul Razak to be charged, the Kuala Lumpur High Court heard.

Defence witness R Raja Gopal testified that Abu Kassim had made the suggestion during a meeting of the 1MDB task force on July 4, 2015.

Raja Gopal, who was then from one of the sub-units of the commercial crime investigation department, testified that he represented then inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar, who was unable to attend the said meeting.

The multi-agency 1MDB task force was then headed by then attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail, and also comprised Bank Negara then-governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz and Khalid, among others.

The task force was formed to investigate the RM2.6 billion of purported donation from the Saudi royal family that flowed into then-premier Najib’s personal account and the RM42 million of funds allegedly from SRC International that also ended up in Najib’s personal account.

However, later that same month of July 2015, it was reported that the then BN administration removed Gani from office on purported health grounds.

Najib later appointed Apandi (above) to be attorney-general, who went on to clear the former of wrongdoing in the RM2.6 billion donation and RM42 million SRC funds issues.

Shafee: Did anyone (at the July 4, 2016) meeting suggested that some court action be taken on the RM42 million SRC International case?

Raja Gopal: In the meeting, from what (then DPP) Dzulkifli Ahmad said, I was in the meeting with Abu Kassim, who suggested that Najib be charged over the RM42 million SRC case.

Shafee: He (Abu Kassim) suggested that to the task force and its chairperson (Gani)?

Raja Gopal: It (suggestion) was made in the task force (meeting on July 4, 2015).

Shafee: He (Abu Kassim) suggested (for then-premier Najib) to be charged?

Raja Gopal: Yes.

Shafee: Abu Kassim suggested that a serving prime minister (Najib in 2015) be charged in relation to the RM42 million (SRC case)?

Raja Gopal: Yes.

On Shafee's question on whether the then 1MDB task force took up on Abu Kassim's suggestion to charge Najib, Raja Gopal said it did not.

Shafee: Did the then attorney-general (Gani) made a decision (to charge Najib)?

Raja Gopal: No.

Raja Gopal’s testimony was made during examination-in-chief by Shafee on the 89th day of Najib’s RM42 million SRC International trial before Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali earlier.

Najib is on trial for seven charges of abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering linked to RM42 million that allegedly flowed into the accused’s personal accounts.

Meanwhile to Shafee’s question on whether Najib’s statement on the SRC case was recorded by MACC prior to Abu Kassim’s suggestion that he (Najib) be charged, Raja Gopal said he was not aware.

Raja Gopal also testified that he was not aware that the MACC had recorded statements from key witnesses, such as SRC International’s then CEO Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil and the company’s then-director Suboh Md Yassin, before the suggestion to charge Najib was made to the 1MDB taskforce.

The witness said that the best person to ask on the matter would be the actual investigating officer rather than he himself.

During cross-examination by DPP V Sithambaram, Raja Gopal conceded that his memory of Abu Kassim’s suggestion for Najib be charged was assisted by having heard the 1MDB-linked audio recordings of purported conversations of Najib and several other personalities.

Among these other personalities were Dzulkifli (above) and Najib’s wife Rosmah Mansor, among others, Dzulkifli would later come to head MACC as its chief commissioner, taking over from Abu Kassim.

Abu Kassim is currently now the director-general of the National Centre for Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption (GIACC).

On May 14, 2018, tt was reported that Dzulkifli tendered his resignation as MACC chief commissioner.

Back on Jan 8 this year, the MACC released to the media the nine 1MDB-linked audio recordings.

Najib’s RM42 million SRC International trial before Nazlan will resume around 9am tomorrow morning. - Mkini