PUTRAJAYA, Oct 21 (Bernama) — Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak told the High Court here today that he had returned US$620 million of unutilised funds from a donation to the source account after seeking approval from Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).
In his oral remarks preceding the defence submission, Najib said that the funds which had been the subject of intense media scrutiny were used for political and social welfare purposes and that he did not hold any offshore accounts.
“Equally shocking is that I actually returned US$620 million to the source account because it had not been utilised. Before returning the unused donation, I wrote to the BNM governor at the material time, Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz, seeking Bank Negara’s approval for the return,” he said before presiding judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah.
Najib contended that several individuals linked to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), including former chief executive officers Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi and Mohd Hazem Abdul Rahman, his former aide Datuk Amhari Effendi Nazaruddin and former 1MDB counsel Jasmine Loo Ai Swan had carried out questionable transactions involving hundreds of millions of US dollars without facing legal consequences.
He claimed that despite their alleged misconduct, these individuals were treated as credible witnesses for the prosecution while he alone was charged.
Earlier, Najib’s counsel, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah informed the court that the defence had compiled seven volumes of written arguments for the former prime minister’s 1MDB-related case, which will be submitted over the span of nine days.
On May 6, the defence in Najib’s case involving the misappropriation of RM2.3 billion belonging to 1MDB closed its case after calling 26 witnesses, and the court fixed nine days beginning today for oral submissions.
Najib, 72, faces four charges of using his position to obtain gratification totalling RM2.3 billion in 1MDB funds at the AmIslamic Bank Berhad branch on Jalan Raja Chulan, Bukit Ceylon here between Feb 24, 2011, and Dec 19, 2014 under Section 23(1) of the MACC Act and can be punished under Section 24(1) of the same act.
Upon conviction, the former Pekan Member of Parliament faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of either five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
For the 21 money laundering charges, Najib is accused of committing the offences at the same bank between March 22, 2013, and Aug 30, 2013 under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, which provides for a maximum fine of RM5 million and imprisonment of up to five years, or both, upon conviction.
Najib has been serving a sentence in Kajang Prison since Aug 23, 2022, after being convicted in a separate criminal trial over misappropriating RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd.
He petitioned for a royal pardon on Sept 2, 2022, which reduced his 12-year imprisonment to six years and a RM210 million fine to RM50 million.
The hearing continues tomorrow.
— BERNAMA