NAJIB Razak spent RM80,000 in 2013 for leukaemia prevention supplements, taken from donation money he allegedly received from Saudi royalty, the High Court today was told. 

Assistant Director of the Anti-Money Laundering Criminal Investigation Division ACP Foo Wei Min confirmed this when questioned by Najib’s lead counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah on the RM80,000 payout from Najib’s AmIslamic personal account ending with 694 to an entity known as Vital Spire Sdn Bhd, which the former premier said was for blood cancer treatment as recommended by a doctor. 

Muhammad Shafee was questioning the 48th prosecution witness on the statements recorded from Najib on August 27, 2018 under Section 32 of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001. 

The lawyer then read out excerpts from Najib’s statement to Foo, which included Najib’s claim that the supplements were for his general health and as a preventive measure after his father, the late Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, died of leukaemia. 

In the statement, Najib also said he feared not being able to carry on with the administration of the country if he fell ill. 

Muhammad Shafee: Do you recall, Najib told you the total cost for that medicine was about RM1 million or less and that he could have taken this treatment from the government, but he didn’t want to burden the government, so he took it from the money that he thought were donations. Do you remember? 

Foo: I think he did mention that.  

Earlier, Foo also verified other transactions such as a RM9 million payment to Zeal Hi-Tech Solutions Sdn Bhd for goodie bags and souvenirs for Umno members, RM9 million to textile retailer Jakel Trading for a charity programme in Pekan, Pahang, and robes for mosque committee members all over Malaysia, several payments to political party components including Pahang MCA Liasion Committee and Selangor Barisan Nasional as well as welfare assistance of RM200,000 to Kolej Islam Sultan Alam Shah. 

Muhammad Shafee said he would continue questioning the witness on a few more transactions next week but suggested to Foo the accusation that “Najib is a kleptocrat” was wrong as the money he spent was all for political and corporate social responsibility purposes and not for personal gain.  

Foo said he was not able to comment on this, and that he was only focussing on the investigation, as an investigation officer would do.  

Najib, 70, faces four charges of using his position to obtain bribes amounting to RM2.3 billion belonging to 1Malaysia Development Bhd and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount. 

The trial before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues on November 14. – Bernama, November 9, 2023.