THE Bank Negara Malaysia officer who ordered the raid on Ambank on July 6, 2015, today told the Kuala Lumpur High Court that all documents seized in that operation were handed to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) last year. 

Ahmad Farhan Sarifuddin said he received an application from MACC officer Wong Chiew Hoong last year and handed over eight folders of original documents. 

Earlier, he told the court he was ordered by Bank Negara director Abdul Rahman Abu Bakar to carry out an investigation into Ambank Group under Part 4 of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 (Amlatfa).

Ahmad Farhan then instructed Bank Negara investigating officer Azizul Adzani Abdul Ghafar to lead the July 6 raid. Azizul handed over the documents the following morning. 

Under the cross examination by defence lawyer Harvinderjit Singh, Azizul said he classified the case under Section 4(1) of Amlatfa on his own volition.

Azizul said while he was briefed on the raid on AmBank, he did not recall an instruction to classify the case under Section 4 when a police report was lodged later that night. 

It is a procedure that central bank investigating officers lodge police reports after each raid. 

Azizul said he only classified the investigation after receiving the documents from Ambank manager R Uma Devi.

Azizul’s testimony was disputed by Harvinderjit.

Harvinderjit: Come on sir, you have been an investigating officer for seven years. It is remarkable that as a raiding officer, you made your own assumption that another offence (relating to transactions) was made despite the raid having no (prior) briefing.

You stated in your police report that in the 34 minutes after receiving the documents about the specific transactions from Ms Uma Devi, you formed an opinion that there was an offence under Section 4, which is related to specific transactions. 

Azizul: I don’t recall which documents led me to (specify Section 4). 

Harvinderjit: I’m sorry, but I must say, you are not telling the truth. Are you trying to hide something here?  

Azizul: No.

Harvinderjit: I don’t believe that you as an officer, came up with the opinion to investigate the matter under Section 4, based on these 10 documents (that Uma surrendered). I’m putting it to you, you’re not being very honest. Do you agree? 

Azizul: I disagree.

Harvinderjit: Come on, tuan, you are not being very honest. I have cornered you here. Have you received any instructions to appear at this trial and not give truthful testimony? 

Azizul: No.

The Ambank raids showed transactions of between RM5 million and RM40 million in 2014 and 2015, involving accounts linked to SRC International Sdn Bhd and Gandingan Mentari Sdn Bhd. – April 17, 2019