NAJIB Razak never confirmed with Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Al-Saud whether the royal family received the US$620 million (RM2.2 billion) he returned in 2013, the supposed remainder of an alleged donation, the high court heard today.

The former prime minister said he remitted the amount from his private AmBank account ending 694 to Tanore Finance Corp, which he believed was controlled by his benefactor.

The amount was remitted several months after the 2013 general election in May.

The Pekan MP was being cross-examined by ad hoc prosecutor V. Sithambaram today on whether he knew that Tanore was associated with Penang-born businessman Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, who claims to have been offered asylum in Europe.

Najib said he could not confirm the link between Tanore and Low, and said everything he knew was based on news reports.

Sithambaram: The money you sent back is a very large amount by any standard; in hindsight, wouldn’t it be more prudent to check with the person to whom you sent the letter (on your desire to return the donation)?

Najib: No, because he (Low) was nominated by the royal family.

Sithambaram: What do you mean “nominated”?

Najib: He was dealing with Prince Turki.

Sithambaram: The king told you? How do you personally know that as a fact?

Najib: I know that as a fact. 

Sithambaram: Despite the fact, you don’t think it’s prudent? I’m putting it to you that, from day one, you knew, as a fact, that these monies never originated from the Saudi royal family.

Najib: I disagree. 

Sithambaram: Unfortunately, no member of the Saudi royal family would come to court and confirm this as a fact.

Najib: It is difficult to get them to come. 

Sithambaram: I would say that for you to try to get them to come to court would not be convenient for your story.

Najib: I disagree. 

Najib is on trial for charges linked to RM4 billion in loans issued to SRC International in 2011 and 2012, of which he is accused of receiving RM42 million in 2014 and 2015.

The 66-year-old has maintained that he was under the impression that RM42 million he spent originated from donations from the Saudi Arabian royal family.  

When questioned by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in 2018, Najib told investigators that some US$1.05 billion had been wired into his personal bank account between 2011 and 2013.

During trial last year, he said he only became aware of this donation in his bank account after the MACC took his statement, after which his lawyer obtained documents from his bank.

Najib has also said that the donation from the Saudi royals were to help make Malaysia a model Islamic country. – January 23, 2020.