NAJIB Razak’s SRC International trial enters its twelfth day today, with the 24th witness, AmBank head office remittance department manager Wedani Senen, returning to the stand.

She told the court on Tuesday RM4 billion was transferred from pension fund KWAP into SRC International via five transfers in 2011 and 2012.

Also testifying on Tuesday was AmBank manager R. Uma Devi, who testified that all cheques issued from Najib’s three personal accounts can only be signed by the former prime minister himself and no one else.

Defence lawyers contesting Najib’s seven charges, however, argued the former prime minister’s signature could have been forged and that his accounts were manipulated outside his knowledge.

They do not deny that one of Najib’s AmBank current account, opened on January 13, 2011, eventually received US$681 million (RM2.6 billion) over the next two years.

During cross-examination, lawyers got Uma to state that the transactions from overseas included a “donation and gift” from a Prince Faisal Turki of Saudi Arabia. She added that US$620 million was remitted out of the country later.

On Tuesday, prominent businessman Habibul Rahman Kadir Shah also testified, confirming that he was paid RM2.5 million by Najib to do political intelligence and to establish support for the Barisan Nasional government.

He told the court he was to carry out work to “defuse political threats” and to build up political goodwill “for the purpose of BN’s benefit.”

Another witness, Lew Choon Lai said his event management company, Solar Shine Sdn Bhd, was paid a RM1 million cheque by Najib to publicise 1Malaysia, a government programme that promoted ethnic harmony and good governance.

A total of RM4 billion was funnelled into SRC International between 2011 and 2012, after which RM42 million eventually made its way into Najib’s bank accounts.

Najib faces three counts of criminal breach of trust, three counts of money-laundering and one count of abuse of power over those funds.  

Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali is presiding over the trial.

The Malaysian Insight brings you today’s proceedings live:

5.21pm: Judge agrees to continue the trial on Monday. Court is adjourned.

5.19pm: The witness has stepped down from the stand. Shafee has asked the judge to replace the eight remaining Friday dates of the trial. 

5.06pm: On August 22, 2011, KWAP also received a letter from MoF on the government guarantee for the RM2 billion for 10 years, says Amirul Imran. Loan was approved on August 26, 2011.

4.57pm: On August 12, 2011, a request was made by SRC International to KWAP CEO Azian Mohd Noh that the money be issued straight to SRC International, as it already had government backing through 1MDB.

4.54pm: On July 19, 2011, he says KWAP’s investment panel had approved the RM2 billion loan for SRC made by 1MDB, which was made on a government guarantee. This means that the loan would be given to the government and the government would give the money to 1MDB.

4.46pm: Amirul Imran says his superiors told him that the panel had decided to postpone the loan approval as they needed more information on SRC International.

He was then told to come up with a proposal for a RM2 billion loan for the panel’s consideration.

4.41pm: Amirul Imran says Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil emailed him on July 1, 2011, staying that 1MDB cannot disclose details of investments or cash flow of the company as it had not obtained approval from chairman of the board, which at that time was Najib.

He says he was then instructed by his CEO to prepare a proposal for an RM1 billion loan for working capital and general investments. This proposal would have to go through the KWAP investment panel.

4.38pm: Amirul Imran says he had received a letter, dated June 5, 2011, from Najib to the KWAP CEO at that time that he agrees with the loan request from 1MDB for SRC.

“In my understanding, this was an approval that the PM allowed KWAP to give the loan to SRC.”

He says because he has seen Najib’s signature many times, he can conclusively say that Najib had signed the letter.

4.32pm: Amirul Imran says he worked in KWAP as a deputy president for the fixed income department from 2011 to 2014.

4.29pm: On June 16, 2011, he sent an email to SRC director Nik Faisal Kamil’s assistant Nor Azlina, requesting 1MDB’s accounts, current accounts and company’s profiles. He said he received a reply from Nor Azlina that they would give him the documents when they meet.

4.20pm: Amirul Imran says he was involved in the two RM2 billion transactions that KWAP gave to SRC International in two separate transactions in 2011 and 2012.

4.13pm: Prosecutor Ishak Mohd Yusoff will question Amirul Imran.

4.08pm: Court resumes with 29th witness, Amirul Imran Ahmat, taking the stand.

The 39-year-old vice-president SME Bank Bhd has prepared a statement with help from MACC. His testimony is based on his own information.

3.47pm: Witness stands down and Harvinderjit asks for a 5-minute break.

3.45pm: Sithambaram asks Kamariah after 2010, since the approval of SRC, was there any growth in the company? 

Shafee objects to the question. 

Sithambaram: This is just a follow-up question whether there was an increase in coal supply after 2010. 

Shafee: This was not in their application. It’s not fair to ask what transpired in the coal business because the questions was never raised. And she left in November 2011.

Sithambaram: A lot of emphasis has been made on coal. We need to know if there was an increase in coal investments. 

Nazlan allows the line of questioning.

Kamariah says she was not aware of coal growth during that time.

3.40pm: Kamariah: We cannot give a grant for RM3 billion. Because the annual development budget is RM42 billion, if we give RM3 billion it’s 7% of our budget. If we gave the grant to a company that had not started, it would be negligent on our part.

Izzat: You still provided the RM20 million. Any reason? 

Kamariah: There was some merit to the company. To carry out research and studies on coal investments.

3.37pm:  Shafee: The EPU isn’t bound by any opinion? 

Kamariah: Somewhat correct.

Shafee ends his cross-examination and witness is re-examined by prosecutor Muhammad Izzat.

3.36pm: Shafee: What is the organisational relationship between EPU and the PM’s Department?

Kamariah: (pauses) in a way yes, but in the past we have decided in terms of development. But certain matters we go back to PM. But we are still answerable to PM’s department. But in research and development, we are independent.

Shafee: Are you answerable to the PM’s Dept?

Kamariah: In a way, yes.

3.32pm: Shafee: As a general rule, the EPU’s (view) is respected by the PM?

Kamariah: I wouldn’t know.

Shafee: Does the PM respect the views of the EPU?

Kamariah: Correct.

3.23pm: Shafee: Your department decided that they agree with coal and uranium investments and the set up of SRC International. But you said, no, to a RM3 billion grant. You said it because they (SRC) should go and get loans from the commercial market so that they are competitive internationally.

Kamariah: Yes.

3.20pm: Shafee now touches on uranium investments, and reads the EPU letter supporting ventures in the sector.

3.16pm: Kamariah explaning coal investment: You have to bear in mind, for the import of coal, independent power producers were dependant on TNB to import coal. They didn’t have resources to import. If TNB imported for all, they would get a better price.

Shafee: Let’s not go into that. Is TNB a monopoly? Was it a good thing for 1MDB to go into coal? 

Kamariah: Yes.

3.13pm: Shafee: At one time, did the government consider that this was a strategic investment in the iron and steel industry? 

Kamariah: But, we cannot rely so much on this, we have to look at the development of the industry. We have to see what’s the industry like. At that juncture, we opined that the private sector don’t get involved.

Shafee: Now we go into oil and gas. Will you agree with me it is a monopoly of Petronas, the answer is obviously yes? 

Kamariah: Yes, yes, it probably was.

2.56pm: Shafee begins to cross examine Kamariah.

Shafee: It would be a serious proposal if you submit a grant (request) to the prime minister, if it is not serious, an entity would not submit it to the prime minister. This was addressed to the PM and the minister of finance.

Kamariah: Yes. 

2.52pm: Harvinderjit asks Kamariah  about a meeting she had with 1MDB executives to discuss SRC’s way forward

She says 1MDB’s vice president of business development and other staff were there.

2.45pm: Harvinderjit asks if the EPU supported setting up SRC. 

She says there were plans to set up two big coal plants under the 10th Malaysia Plan, the unit supported investments in coal.

2.43pm: Harvinderjit asks what does the RM20 million launching grant mean.

Kamariah says this was given to undertake due diligence and to hire talent. 

Harvinderjit: The provision of RM20 million was to help them get their foot in the door for energy? 

Kamariah: Yes, and also to undertake feasibility studies into coal and uranium.

2.35pm: Kamariah agrees that a government grant means that there’s no expectation that the money will be returned.

“If we were to give a grant of any amount there is still accountability,” she says.

2.30pm: Harvinderjit is going through the timeline of events with Kamariah as to when 1MDB asked for the RM3 billion.

2.14pm: Court resumes after break. Harvinderjit begins cross-examining Kamariah.

12.33pm: Harvinderjit says the defence was not informed of Kamariah’s appearance today and asks for an early lunch break so he can prepare documents for his cross examination of the witness.

Judge Nazlan allows the early lunch break and says the trial will resume at 2pm instead of 2.30pm.

12.30pm: Kamariah says the Prime Minister’s Department agreed with the RM20 million grant to start up SRC International.

She says she was then instructed to inform 1MDB that the Prime Minister’s Department had accepted the EPU’s proposal.

12.25pm: “We support the proposal 1MDB to start SRC International to invest in coal and uranium, but we objected to investing in petroleum and gas as it was already done by Petronas. The grant of RM3 billion was rejected. But we allowed a grant of RM20 million.

“The RM20 million was allowed basically for the starting of SRC International, for due diligence and also to hire the talent they required.”

She says the memo was sent to the Prime Minister’s Department and she received a response a few days after that.

12.20pm: “I was instructed to look into the request by the director of the unit, Noriah Ahmad, to study this and come up with a response,” Kamariah tells the court.

She says she had prepared a review of the request addressed to Najib and will read it out to the court.

12.15pm: Kamariah tells the court that there was an application from Najib’s executive officer in 1MDB in 2010 and it was addressed to the finance minister. The application was CC’ed to other ministers as well.

She says the letter requested RM3 billion to start SRC International, a special vehicle to acquire strategic stakes in key resource areas such as in coal and iron.

12pm: The next witness is Kamariah Noruddin, 61, director of the Economic Planning Unit and also director of services in the Prime Minister’s Department.

11.40am: Zarinah says Najib received a monthly salary of RM48,681.65 throughout his tenure as deputy prime minister from the Prime Minister’s Department.

When he became prime minister, his monthly salary was RM58,605.15.

In December 2012, Najib received an additional monthly allowance of RM11,000, which bumped his salary to more than RM70,000.

In May 2018, Najib received a RM1 milllion special payment. Zarinah says she is unsure of the reason behind the special payment but it was in accordance to the law.

The witness is released. Prosecution lawyer Muhammad Izzat asks judge Nazlan for a 5-minute break.

The judge agrees and the court stands down for five minutes.

11.30am: The next witness to take the stand is Zarinah Yusuf, the deputy head of accounting in the Prime Minister’s Department.

Zarinah says her job is to make sure salaries and bills are paid, that includes paying the wages of all ministers in the Prime Minister’s Department, the deputy prime minister and the prime minister.

She says the MACC had asked her to surrender Najib’s payslips to an investigating officer named Mr Rosli.

Zarinah is verifying Najib’s payslips from January 2009 to March 2018.

11.25am: Defence lawyer Harvinderjit cross examines her to verify the statement.

Harvinderjit: Other than these allowances, did he receive anything else?

Farah Nordiana: No.

The witness has been let go.

11.15am: Farah Nordiana says her role in Parliament was to manage the allowances of members of Parliament.

She says that newly appointed MPs get a salary of RM25,700.

Farah Nordiana tells the court that the prime minister receives a RM3,846 allowance and Najib’s salary minus allowances from 2012 to 2018 is RM10,355.18.

Najib also received RM16,000 in allowance in September 2015 for the period of January-August 2015.

In total, Najib receives RM19,846 in monthly salary.

She says this is the breakdown of the salary Najib received as an MP and leader of Parliament from 2011 to 2018.

11am: Daman says there is no appointment letter of Najib taking the role of finance minister. The witness has been let go from the stand.

The next witness taking the stand is 42-year-old Farah Nordiana Azhar, an administrative officer in Parliament.

She has prepared a written statement that was also read to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

10.50am: Daman is asked to verify a document which states that Najib was appointed as a public servant.

The document says Najib was a youth and sports minister in 1986 and goes on to detail all the ministries the former prime minister had helmed in his tenure in government.

He is also verifying Najib’s appointment letter as prime minister in 2009.

10.40am: The first witness for the day takes the stand.

Daman Huri Nor works in the Prime Minister’s Department as a secretary and his job scope is to take care of Parliamentary matters concerning the department and the prime minister.

Daman is questioned by Muhammad Izzat Fauzan of the prosecution.

10.30am: Thomas tells Nazlan that they can add additional dates for the SRC trial if need be, which is slated to end on June 21 as the 1MDB trial only begins on August 19. Thomas says Nazlan can add more trial dates from June 21 to August 19.

Shafee is giving Judge Nazlan reasons why the trial should not continue on Friday. Nazlan said he is agreeable to the suggestion provided that the defence can replace those dates. Thomas said if that is done, it will shrink the trial length because they may not be able to replace all dates.

Prosecution and defence are arguing over the dates. Shafee wants Friday off to manage other works in the office, while Tommy says it is unfair to keep postponing the Fridays.

Shafee: I can’t neglect other works in the office. In the meantime, I also have to be considerate about my Muslim clients. I can’t bother them after 6pm as this would affect their maghrib prayers.

10.20am: Session starts. Thomas is explaining to judge Nazlan what happened with judge Colin earlier this morning.

10.15am: Justice Sequerah agrees to vacate the dates for the 1MDB trial for May and June for the SRC International trial on condition that the 1MDB trial begins by mid August.

The 1MDB trial is now set to start on August 19 and will proceed until November 14.

Defence lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah receives permission to vacate certain dates in early September as he will be representing the widow of the late Cradle Fund CEO.

Attorney-General Tommy Thomas and V. Sithambaram enter the court and take their seats on the prosecution bench.

Shafee and Harvinderjit are also in the court and are ready for judge Nazlan Ghazali to enter the chambers.

10.10am: Najib enters the courtroom and sits in the public gallery. The former prime minister arrived at the court complex at 9am. He was greeted by a group of supporters at the court lobby, where he shook hands with several of them and a short prayer was held at the court lobby. The supporters left at 9.10am

10am: The trial has yet to commence even though it was scheduled to start at 9.30am. Najib arrived in court some time ago sporting a dark blue suit with some supporters, but he is not in the courtroom at the moment.

9.30am: The prosecution led by Attorney-General Tommy Thomas will be bidding to postpone Najib’s 1MDB trial as it will clash with the ongoing SRC trial. The prosecution will be bidding in front of judge Colin Lawrence Sequerah to postpone the 1MDB dates slated to begin on May 14. – May 2, 2019.