Banker: Najib issued 38 checks worth RM8.4m between 2011 and 2012

 

The senior manager of AmBank’s check processing unit testified that Najib Abdul Razak issued two checks totalling RM2 million to Selangor Umno between November 2011 and March 2012.

Badrul Hisham Mohamad (above) told the Kuala Lumpur High Court that these were among 38 checks worth RM8,405,850 issued from the former prime minister’s account ending with 694 during a similar period.

The 35th prosecution witness was giving oral evidence during the RM2.28 billion 1MDB corruption trial of former finance minister Najib.

Among other noteworthy recipients of the checks are Selangor Wanita Umno (RM1.9 million), Machang Umno (RM400,000), Pekan Umno (RM330,000), former lands and co-operatives development minister Kasitah Gaddam (RM100,000), former human resources minister Richard Riot (RM100,000), and Pekan Wanita Umno (RM70,000).

The 694 account - opened in 2011 and closed in 2013 - was previously claimed by Najib to have received millions of US dollars in donations from Arab royalty.

The former premier made this claim during his separate trial over the RM42 million SRC International corruption case. He is now currently serving a 12-year-jail term at Kajang Prison over that case.

Badrul Hisham testified that six companies received a total of RM1,428,250, 18 individuals received RM2,107,600, and eight Umno entities as well as a single BN entity received a total of RM4,870,000.

Among these individuals were the late Bersatu’s Jempol acting chief Ruslan Kasim (RM200,000), Najib’s former political secretary Wong Nai Chee (RM32,600), and property tycoon Lim Soon Peng (RM1 million).

Proceedings before trial judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues.

Najib is on trial for four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering involving RM2.28 billion from 1MDB.

The Pekan MP was alleged to have committed four counts of corruption at AmIslamic Bank Berhad’s Jalan Raja Chulan branch in Bukit Ceylon, Kuala Lumpur, between Feb 24, 2011, and Dec 19, 2014.

On the 21 money laundering charges, Najib is purported to have committed the offences at the same bank between March 22, 2013, and Aug 30, 2013.

The prosecution contended that the wrongdoing at 1MDB was carried out by businessperson Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, and several others with the blessing of Najib.

The accused’s defence team, however, claimed that the ex-prime minister had no knowledge of the crime perpetrated at 1MDB and that the embezzlement was solely masterminded by Low and other members of the fund’s management. - Mkini