KUALA LUMPUR: The prosecution team in Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak’s SRC International Sdn Bhd trial today queried the “paltry sum” of £2,216.01 (RM11,567.57) that had been credited into the former prime minister’s personal bank account by the Saudi royal family in 2014.
Ad-hoc prosecutor Datuk V.Sithambaram expressed curiosity over the amount in the former finance minister’s account ending with the digits 880.
Sithambaram was referring to a transfer of that amount from Vista Equity International Partners Limited, Seychelles on Nov 24, 2014, which went into Najib’s “880” bank account two days later (Nov 26, 2014).
When Sithambaram showed Najib the bank statement, he confirmed that the money had been credited into his account.
Sithambaram: Look at your November bank statement, the amount credited in your account?
Najib: Yes.
Sithambaram: I don’t understand why the (Saudi) royal family sent a paltry sum of (RM11,567.57), quite strange. Do you agree the funds were from the Saudi royals?
Najib: Yes.
To another question, Najib said he never complained to AmBank about the mismanagement of his accounts until the accounts were closed because he was not aware of any wrongdoings then.
Najib also disagreed with Sithambaram’s suggestion that all funds that went into his five AmBank accounts between 2011 and 2015 were for his personal benefit.
Sithambaram: I put it to you, that the expenditures from your accounts to Barisan Nasional, Umno and other social causes had personally benefited you in your political career?
Najib: That was meant for the continuation of the government of the day.
Najib is making his defence on seven charges of misappropriating RM42 million in SRC International funds, comprising three counts of criminal breach of trust, three counts of money laundering and one count of abuse of position in relation to the SRC funds.
The trial before Judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali continues. - Bernama
