CHEQUES amounting to more than RM30.8 million were issued from SRC International-linked accounts via AmBank between December 2014 and March 2015, the Kuala Lumpur High Court was told today.

Bank cheque-processing officer Badrul Hisam Mohamad testified that the cheques – 17 in all – were issued from four accounts, including two company ones.

He later confirmed that 15 of the cheques originated from AmBank and AmBank Islamic accounts belonging to Najib Razak.

AmBank Islamic account no. 202-201190-6, from which 14 transfers were made, was identified as belonging to the former prime minister, as was AmBank account no. 202-201189-8.

The cheques originating from Najib’s accounts amounted to some RM10.7 million.

The recipients of the 17 cheques included a law firm owned by Umno counsel Mohd Hafarizam Harun, who was charged in February with money laundering involving RM15 million.

Cheques were also made out to the Penang Umno liaison committee and the party’s Johor Baru division, as well as Sabah Barisan Nasional component Upko.

The cheques, which were submitted as evidence, are as follows:

* RM240,000 issued to Vital Spire, dated January 30, 2015

* RM2.5 million to Zulqarnain and Co (February 2, 2015)

* RM300,000 to Centre for Strategic Engagement (February 8, 2015)

* RM238,914 to Lim Soon Peng (February 12, 2015)

* RM100,000 to ABS Trend Master (February 12, 2015)

* RM1 million to Upko (February 13, 2015)

* RM400,000 to cheque trustees of Rumah Penyayang Tun Abdul Razak (February 12, 2015)

* RM1 million to Solar Shine (February 17, 2015)

* RM50,000 to Asmadi Abu Talib (February 12, 2015)

* RM13,800 to Manisah Othman (February 12, 2015)

* RM56,500 to Moz Malaysia (February 24, 2015)

* RM1 million to the Penang Umno liaison committee (February 26, 2015)

* RM77,300 to Syadilah Enterprise (February 24, 2015)

* RM300,000 to Johor Baru Umno (February 26, 2015)

* RM3.5 million to law firm Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak, issued from account no. 202-201189-8 (January 21, 2015)

* RM20 million to Ihsan Perdana, issued from SRC International company account no. 202-200973-6 (December 12, 2014)

* RM103,361.17 to Ihsan Perdana, issued from SRC International company account no. 021-160010-0 (March 9, 2015).

This amounts to a total of RM30,879,875.17.

All cheques exhibited today begin with the prefix 211, which Badrul explained was a bank branch code assigned by Bank Negara for cheques issued from the AmBank branch in Jalan Raja Chulan, Kuala Lumpur. 

Deputy public prosecutors Suhaimi Ibrahim and Muhammad Saifuddin Hashim Musaimi led the questioning of the witness.

Najib, dressed in a blue suit, sat in the dock. He was represented by his lead counsel, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.

Attorney-General Tommy Thomas, who was not present today, said in his opening statement on April 3 that the prosecution intended to prove Najib had issued 15 personal cheques from his AmPrivate Banking-MY no. 211-202-201190-6, totalling an approximate sum of RM10,776,514.00.

Prosecutors said Najib had committed an offence under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

Meanwhile, Badrul said the cheque to Hafarizam experienced a shortfall as only RM3,500 was in the debit account instead of RM3.5 million. Badrul testified that AmBank received a CIMB facsimile on February 6 informing them about the mistake in the amount.  

Under cross-examination by defence lawyer Harvinderijit Singh, Badrul explained that upon encountering rejected cheques, the issuing bank will notify the issuing account via the relationship manager. Badrul said it is then the relationship manager’s duty to inform the account holder and nominees, and no one else.

In seeking further evidence that the cheques were from Najib’s account, Harvinderjit asked Badrul to produce images of the cheques or supporting documents. 

Harvinderjit said the documents were required for the money trail chart to show how the cheques were cleared.  

Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali then directed Badrul to produce, at a later date, the additional documents requested by the defence. – April 18, 2019.