Jepak's Saidi took out RM5m cash from Maybank to give to 'RM', says witness
ROSMAH TRIAL | Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin withdrew RM5 million in cash in 2016 for a person identified only as "RM", the Kuala Lumpur High Court heard today.
Businessperson Razak Othman, who owns a company together with Saidi, testified at the corruption trial against Rosmah Mansor today that he had helped his partner deliver the cash to a building in Kuala Lumpur sometime in Dec, where they dropped it in a vehicle.
ROSMAH TRIAL | Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin withdrew RM5 million in cash in 2016 for a person identified only as "RM", the Kuala Lumpur High Court heard today.
Businessperson Razak Othman, who owns a company together with Saidi, testified at the corruption trial against Rosmah Mansor today that he had helped his partner deliver the cash to a building in Kuala Lumpur sometime in Dec, where they dropped it in a vehicle.
However, Razak said Saidi did not tell him who the money was for or for what purpose, except on one occasion, a couple of months later.
"I never knew that the cash, which was placed in two luggage bags, was for whom or for what purpose it was given.
"However, about one or two months after that incident, Saidi told me that the money was for 'RM'.
"At that point, I did not know who Saidi meant by that and at the same time, I also did not ask because I could see that he had intentionally kept it (the identity of RM) secret from me," Razak told the court.
The eighth prosecution witness said before the cash was sent to its recipient, he had followed Saidi to Maybank branch in Medan Tuanku, Kuala Lumpur to withdraw the cash.
He said they took two black luggage bags to the bank, which Saidi had purchased at a shop near the Sogo shopping complex earlier.
Razak, 52, said he was asked by Saidi to count the cash and help him place the notes in the bags.
"When I received the money (from bank officer) I could see that they were wrapped inside transparent plastic and it was in RM100 denomination.
"I then put the money of RM2.5 million in each bag, which by then I knew the total amount of all the cash was RM5 million," he testified.
Razak said he and Saidi then loaded the bags into the latter's Range Rover, which was driven by Saidi's driver Shamsul Rizal Sharbini.
The witness said he wanted to leave for home, but Saidi had asked Razak to follow him to deliver the money.
"Saidi did not tell me to whom he wanted to send the money to, or for what purpose he was doing it. I only agreed to follow him as he is my friend."
Razak then testified that they were later joined by a man who did not reveal his identity before Shamsul drove to a building near the Pavilion shopping complex with the two luggage bags.
Once they reached the building, Saidi and Razak then went to an upper floor where Saidi met someone.
Razak said they then went down to the lobby again, with the cash in tow, before finally putting them in an MPV which had been waiting there.
He said the vehicle which they dropped the money into was either a Toyota Alphard or Vellfire. They saw a man at the driver's seat, but could not see the face because the MPV was heavily tinted.
Razak's testimony came as the trial entered its 10th day today, giving his evidence under the prosecution's examination-in-chief mainly through a prepared witness statement.
What he said today basically supported what Shamsul had told the court earlier as the prosecution's fourth witness.
They were both testifying in criminal trial against Rosmah, who is the wife of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, in relation to a government project worth RM1.25 billion for the supply of solar hybrid system for 369 schools in Sarawak.
Rosmah is facing three counts of corruption charges in the case.
On the first count, she is accused of dishonestly soliciting RM187.5 million in gratification, which is 15 percent of the solar hybrid project value from Jepak to help them secure the government contract for it.
On the second count, Rosmah is accused of dishonestly accepting RM1.5 million from Jepak's managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin at her Jalan Langgak Duta home.
On the third count, she is accused of accepting another RM5 million from Saidi at her Jalan Langgak Duta home.
The case is being presided over by Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan.
