NAJIB Razak’s defence wants the court to disregard the testimony of former minister Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah in the former prime minister’s RM42 million SRC International Sdn Bhd graft trial
Former second finance minister Husni testified in August last year that Najib had barred him from travelling to Switzerland in 2015 to investigate the RM3.6 billion in SRC International funds that had been frozen.
During his oral submission today, defence counsel Farhan Read raised the fact that Husni had threatened to “expose” Najib in an angry text message to a fellow cabinet member.
The lawyer also pointed to Husni’s belief that Najib was behind a sexual harassment report lodged by a former female staff.
The witness had previously testified that he believed accusations of graft and sexual harassment were levelled against him soon after he raised the issue on the management of 1Malaysia Development Bhd in Parliament in October 2016.
Farhan told the court today that the testimony of such a witness cannot be trusted as Husni admitted to blaming Najib for being a target of claims of sexual misconduct.
“How can one regard such a person? More pertinently, how would his evidence against the person charged (Najib) translate to?
“Can we believe what he says and take what he says at face value?”
Farhan said the court must be cautious in taking Husni’s evidence because of these circumstances.
Husni, 67, had previously testified that Najib had ignored red flags on the management of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) and SRC International.
A total of RM4 billion in supposed loans from Retirement Fund Inc (KWAP) was disbursed to SRC International, which were for coal investments in Java, Indonesia, natural resources in Mongolia, with the balance kept at banks in Switzerland and Hong Kong.
Husni told the court he had attempted to take officers from the Finance Ministry and KWAP to Switzerland to check on the status of the loan, but Najib had refused his request for the trip.
The witness further added that he felt he was treated like an “office boy” by Najib, who not only disregarded his concerns, but had even told him off.
Husni, appointed by Najib to the cabinet in 2009, resigned from his post on June 27, 2016.
He was also Tambun member of Parliament for five terms until he was defeated at the 2018 general election by Bersatu’s Ahmad Faizal Azumu.
Najib’s charges are linked to RM4 billion in loans issued to SRC International in 2011 and 2012, for which he is accused of receiving RM42 million in his accounts in 2014 and 2015.
The 66-year-old was charged with three counts of criminal breach of trust, three counts of money-laundering and one count of abuse of power. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years imprisonment.
Najib, who turns 67 next month, is represented by a dozen lawyers led by Muhammad Shafee Abdullah. The Pekan MP faces up to 20 years in jail if convicted.
The SRC International trial is in its final stage. Upon the conclusion of the defence’s oral submissions, the prosecution will take its turn via ad hoc prosecutor V. Sithambaram. Presiding judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali will later fix a date to deliver his verdict.
THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT
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