A MONTH after investigations cleared him of wrongdoing, Najib Razak instructed his aide to obtain his bank statement from then deputy public prosecutor Dzulkifli Ahmad, the Kuala Lumpur High Court heard today.

Najib’s former private secretary Shukry Mohd Salleh testified that he called Dzulkifly to make the request on February 26, 2016.

Shukri, a defence witness, was examined by lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah who did not reveal the rationale for his questioning. Dzulkifli, who was promoted to Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner in August, 2016, is set to testify later today.

Najib’s instructions to Shukri came a month after former attorney-general Apandi Ali absolved Najib of wrongdoing in relation to SRC International and 1Malaysia Development Bhd.

Shukri, who served as Najib’s principal private secretary from April 16, 2015 until September 30, 2016, said he contacted Dzulkifli the same day.

The 65-year-old witness said he could not recall the outcome of the request.

When cross-examined by ad hoc prosecutor V. Sithambaram, Shukry was questioned on how he could remember the date of the phone call.

Sithambaram: Normally, you wouldn’t be able to remember the date when the PM (prime minister) gave you instructions to call Dzulkifli regarding the account

Shukry: I remember because I referred to my telephone bill. There was a call made by myself (to Dzulkifli).

The witness said he did not know which accounts Najib was referring to but said the latter was looking at a flowchart “similar to the one shown by the attorney-general during his press release.”

Following investigations by several enforcement agencies a year prior, Apandi had held a press conference on January 26, 2016 where he exonerated Najib.

Investigations had delved into allegations that the former finance minister has received in his personal bank accounts RM2.6 billion of 1MDB funds and later RM42 million of SRC International funds.

It was at the press conference that Apandi held up flowcharts showing the movement of money in SRC International and 1MDB. The flowcharts, captured in photos, were scrutinised and later revealed to be similar to the ones on media reports regarding monetary transfers into Najib’s accounts.

Najib is on trial for seven criminal charges of receiving RM42 million in SRC International funds between December 2014 and February 2015. The 66-year-old faces up to 20 years in jail, if convicted.

Defence lawyers, led by Shafee, hope to show that Najib was not fully aware of funds flowing through his accounts and that he was manipulated by others who were managing the accounts. Najib has also maintained that he was under the impression that the RM42 million came from a donation from Saudi royals.  

The trial, before justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali, continues. – March 10, 2020.