NAJIB TRIAL | The 22nd day of Najib Abdul Razak's corruption trial witnessed the defence trying to disassociate the former premier from the appointment of Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil to the top position in SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former subsidiary of 1MDB.

Najib's counsel Harvinderjit Singh grilled former SRC International chairperson Ismee Ismail on the nitty-gritty of its regulations on the appointment of directors.

Based on Harvinderjit's line of questioning, it appeared that the defence was attempting to corner Ismee into agreeing that Najib, as the finance minister at the time, had no authority to meddle in the appointment of an SRC International director.

Both then got into a disagreement on whether Najib's approval for the appointment of directors was a mere formality.

Harvinderjit: It (SRC International's memorandum of association) talks of the consent of the prime minister for appointment (of SRC directors).

Ismee: Yes.

Harvinderjit: That (Najib's nod) merely formalised, not an appointment.

Ismee: Once formalised, it counts as being appointed.

Harvinderjit: You are saying that the prime minister, via a written letter, can approve directors' appointments? Formalising does not mean appointment.

Ismee: Formalise means appointment.

Harvinderjit then asked Ismee whether he was appointed by the SRC International board or by the prime minister. Ismee replied saying it was the latter.

The exchange became heated, forcing Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali to intervene.

"This is an interpretational issue," the judge said, to which Harvinderjit agreed.

Later, the defence lawyer told the witness that following SRC International being fully owned by the Minister of Finance Inc in early 2012, the reporting line was then to the body, and not the finance minister.

Harvinderjit: This puts into doubt that the reporting line was to the prime minister, as there was a set requirement (by the acquisition of SRC International) that the reporting line is to MOF Inc. It was not to the finance minister but to MOF Inc.

Ismee: Okay.

The trial resumes tomorrow at 9am.

Day 22: 'SRC board never sought to verify if Nik Faisal was link to Najib'

Day 22: 'SRC board never sought to verify if Nik Faisal was link to Najib'

Najib backed SRC's RM1.5b investment abroad - witness

Najib backed SRC's RM1.5b investment abroad - witness

Ismee: Nik Faisal was the link between SRC and Najib

Ismee: Nik Faisal was the link between SRC and Najib

As 'ultimate boss', Najib influences KWAP - witness

As 'ultimate boss', Najib influences KWAP - witness