PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court was told today that former prime minister Najib Razak had instructed a senior Treasury official to “expedite” a RM2 billion loan to SRC International in 2011 despite its lack of a track record.
Ad hoc prosecutor V Sithambaram said former Treasury secretary-general Wan Abdul Aziz Wan Abdullah had testified about a meeting he had with Najib.
Wan Aziz was also the chairman of Retirement Fund Incorporated (KWAP).
“He was personally informed by the appellant (Najib) to expedite the loan application approval process and specifically told that a loan of RM2 billion would suffice,” Sithambaram said when outlining the prosecution’s case at the start of Najib’s appeal against his conviction, adding that it overrode preparations for a RM1 billion loan that the KWAP investment panel had made provision for.
He said the panel agreed to approve RM2 billion for SRC in accordance with Najib’s instructions.
Najib is appealing against his conviction on three counts of criminal breach of trust, one charge of abusing his position and three counts of money laundering over SRC funds amounting to RM42 million.
The prosecution was asked to begin oral submissions after lead defence counsel Hisyam Teh told the court he was not in a position to do so on behalf of the appellant.
This was after the court had declined Hisyam’s application to discharge himself. The chief justice went on to instruct him to continue representing the former prime minister in the appeal.
Hisyam then said that the defence would rely on written submissions prepared for use in the Court of Appeal by Najib’s previous lawyers.
Sithambaram also told the court that in 2012 another RM2 billion loan was approved to be disbursed by KWAP to SRC “as a result of interference by the appellant”.
Out of the RM4 billion received by SRC from KWAP, RM42 million entered Najib’s accounts between 2014 and 2015.
The hearing continues. - FMT
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