Police seizure of documents in 2015 made it difficult for 1MDB to present documentation for audit by the National Audit Department (NAD), the Kuala Lumpur High Court heard today.
Former NAD auditor Saadatul Nafisah Bashir Ahmad (above) agreed with former 1MDB chief executive officer Arul Kanda Kandasamy’s legal team regarding the police raid on July 8, six years ago.
The seventh prosecution witness was testifying during the 1MDB audit report amendment trial against Arul Kanda and former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.
Arul Kanda’s lead defence counsel N Sivananthan was cross-examining Saadatul regarding NAD’s constant requests for 1MDB documentation as part of the audit.
Previously during the trial before judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan, the court had heard testimony that NAD faced difficulty trying to get 1MDB to share documentation as part of the audit into the sovereign wealth fund.
Sivananthan: Are you aware that the police seized documents from 1MDB on July 8, 2015?
Saadatul: I heard the news but I do not remember the exact date and what documents they seized.
Sivananthan: You agree that this (raid and seizure by police) would have put 1MDB in a difficult position as police seized their (1MDB) documents and they need to request the (seized) documents from the authorities for the audit process?
Saadatul: Yes.
Najib is charged with using his position to order amendments to 1MDB's final audit report before it was presented to the Public Accounts Committee, in order to prevent any action against him.
Co-accused Arul Kanda was charged with abetting Najib in making the amendments.
The charges are framed under Section 23 (1) of the MACC Act 2009, which specifies a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of no less than five times the amount of gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
The prosecution is contending that decisions to make the amendments were made during a meeting at the office of the then chief secretary to the government Ali Hamsa, in order to remove or alter certain portions of the 1MDB audit report, including dropping the issue of the sovereign wealth funds’ two conflicting financial statements for the year 2014.
Besides Ali, Arul Kanda and Saadatul, others who were present at the meeting were former auditor-general Ambrin Buang, Najib's former principal private secretary Shukry Salleh, and then Attorney-General’s Chambers representative Dzulkifli Ahmad.
During proceedings before Zaini today, Sivananthan also contended that 57 areas of the 1MDB audit report were amended after Arul Kanda provided further information to NAD.
The defence counsel contended that the additional amendments were made to the report even after Feb 24, 2016.
However, Zaini directed Arul Kanda’s defence counsel to give more time for Saadatul to answer the question as she needed to go through an intensive documentary exhibit before she could give a proper answer.
Saadatul's cross-examination will continue when the trial resumes on Sept 27. - Mkini
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