1MDB graft trial: $18.29m in my bank account a donation from late Saudi King, says Najib
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If convicted, Malaysia’s former prime minister Najib Razak faces imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine.
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KUALA LUMPUR – Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak told the Kuala Lumpur High Court that he had believed RM60.6 million (S$18.2 million) received in his personal AmIslamic Bank account were donations from the late Saudi King which he deemed as “financial assistance”.
Najib, 71, testified that there were remittances from Prince Faisal bin Turki bin Bandar Al-Saud and Prince Saud bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.
He also testified that he did inform the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) of his belief that these remittances were donations from the late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz from the coffers of the Saudi kingdom.
“Prior to those remittances, I was personally informed by the late Saudi monarch, His Majesty King Abdullah, during a private audience with him back in 2010, where he conveyed through the interpreters, his intention that he would be supporting me financially, and I have in fact received remittances from the Riyadh Bank Saudi Arabia.
“I have also received letters confirming this Saudi Arabian donation from King Abdullah through his royal representatives, which were extended to AmBank and Bank Negara,” Najib said in his 525-page witness statement at the court on Dec 2.
Najib was taking the stand as the first defence witness in his RM2.28 billion 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) graft trial before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah.
On the basis of the donation as well as his late principal private secretary Azlin Alias’ suggestion, Najib said, he then opened a bank account under his personal name to receive the donations.
“At the meeting with King Abdullah, I was told specifically that I would be assisted in my coming (general) election to ensure that I would be returned as the prime minister to the government of the day.
“I understood this to be financial assistance,” he added.
He also testified that former Saudi minister Adel Al-Jubair had confirmed that the donation was a genuine one.
Najib is facing four counts of using his position to obtain RM2.28 billion gratification from 1MDB’s funds and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same amount.
The abuse of power offences were allegedly committed at an AmIslamic Bank branch in Jalan Raja Chulan, Bukit Ceylon, between Feb 24, 2011 and Dec 19, 2014.
Meanwhile, the money laundering offences were allegedly committed at the same location between March 22 and Aug 30, 2013.
The charges were framed under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act and punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act.
If he is convicted at the end of the defence case, Najib faces imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of five times the amount of gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
The hearing continues on Dec 3. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
