THE prosecution in Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia Development Bhd trial will prove that the alleged donations from Saudi Arabia were concocted by the former prime minister and his associate, Low Taek Jho.
Najib stands trial for abuse of his position to launder some RM2.3 billion, which prosecutors said were public funds.
“After the 1MDB scandal broke in early July 2015, the accused with his mirror image Low (better known as Jho Low) took steps to cover his tracks. Sham documents were produced to pretend a donation from an Arab prince,” lead prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram said in the opening statement.
“Among these were letters and four cheques each for a sum of US$25 million purportedly written out by a person said to be the Arab donor. But these cheques were never meant to be encashed and were never encashed.”
Sri Ram said the prosecution will also produce evidence to show that Najib took active steps to evade justice.
“He interfered with the course of investigation of this case which has come to be known as the 1MDB scandal. He took active steps to effect a cover-up of his criminal acts. The prosecution will rely on all this evidence to show that the accused had the requisite mens rea when the offences with which he is charged were committed.”
Investigators began their probe into suspected misappropriation of public funds at 1MDB and SRC International from July 2015. However, after investigations were completed, then attorney-general Apandi Ali said on January 26, 2016 that no crimes were committed.
Apandi also said the US$681 million (RM2.86 billion) deposited way into Najib’s bank accounts was a “personal donation” from the Saudi royal family and given without any consideration.
Najib said the late King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia donated the amount to combat an uprising in Malaysia similar to the Arab Spring, which toppled several Middle Eastern leaders.
Najib posted on his Facebook last September three documents purportedly from King Abdullah, one bearing the words “Recognition of contribution to the Islamic world”, dated February 1, 2011.
“The king was concerned after knowing there was the possibility of a Malaysian Spring, as Malaysia was also a Muslim country although it was not in the Middle East or Africa,” Najib said last year.
“Due to these concerns as well as our close relationship, in early 2011, the king promised to prepare funds for me and the party to be used in Malaysia.”
He also posted on Facebook a purported letter from Prince Saud Abdulaziz Al-Saud dated February 1, 2011, acknowledging a gift of US$100 million (RM400 million) in recognition of Najib’s “contribution to the Islamic world”.
A lead investigator from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission testified last week at the SRC International trial that Najib received close to RM400 million from a Saudi prince in 2011, identified as a Prince Faisal Turki.
MACC assistant commissioner (special operations) Rosli Husain confirmed that the Saudi Finance Ministry transferred more than RM200 million into Najib’s accounts.
Faisal was reportedly connected to Blackstone Asia Real Estate Partners, a 1MDB-linked company mentioned in court.
Blackstone Asia Real Estate Partners – which has no connection with the hedge fund Blackstone Group – will be one of the central focus areas in the 1MDB trial. – August 28, 2019.
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Comments
Posted 6 years ago by Mike Mok · Reply
Perhaps the ex-PM is still waiting for next Tuesday to start doing something ...?
Posted 6 years ago by Rock Hensem · Reply
Posted 6 years ago by Chee yee ng · Reply
Posted 6 years ago by Monalissa tiffany · Reply
Posted 6 years ago by Lan Lan · Reply