Najib received over RM90m in 2012, banker testifies in 1MDB trial

1MDB Trial | A bank branch manager testified that Najib Abdul Razak received more than RM90 million in his bank account over 10 years ago.

R Uma Devi (above) told the Kuala Lumpur High Court today that the former prime minister received RM90,899,927.30 in his account ending with 694 at AmIslamic Bank, via two tranches in late 2012.

While reading out from her written witness statement, the 37th prosecution witness said that RM15,149,963.64 was deposited into the former finance minister's account on Oct 31 that year.

The manager of the commercial bank's branch at Jalan Raja Chulan, Kuala Lumpur, further stated that RM75,749,963.64 entered Najib's account on Nov 20, 2012.

Uma was testifying during the RM2.28 billion 1MDB corruption trial against the accused, who can be seen in the dock.

In the prosecution's opening statement at the beginning of the trial back on Aug 28, 2019, lead deputy public prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram contended that the crime was allegedly committed through four phases spanning from 2011 to 2014.

The prosecution claimed that during the second phase, Najib used his position, and acted through his purported mirror image, businessperson Low Taek Jho (Jho Low), took positive steps and caused 1MDB to enter into two transactions as a result of which the accused allegedly obtained over RM90 million as gratification.

Prosecutors contended that these two transactions concerned the acquisition of two independent power producers, namely Tanjong Energy Holdings Sdn Bhd and Mastika Lagenda Sdn Bhd.

1MDB proceedings before trial judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah is set to resume this afternoon as well as tomorrow until Thursday this week.

Abuse of power, money laundering

Najib is being tried over four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering involving RM2.28 billion from 1MDB.

The Pekan MP was alleged to have committed four counts of corruption at AmIslamic Bank Berhad’s Jalan Raja Chulan branch in Bukit Ceylon, Kuala Lumpur, between Feb 24, 2011, and Dec 19, 2014.

On the 21 money laundering charges, Najib is purported to have committed the offences at the same bank between March 22, 2013, and Aug 30, 2013.

The prosecution contended that the wrongdoing at 1MDB was carried out by Low and several others, with Najib’s blessings.

The accused’s defence team, however, claimed that the ex-prime minister had no knowledge of the crime perpetrated at 1MDB and the embezzlement was solely masterminded by Low and other members of the fund’s management.

Uma also testified for the prosecution in a separate criminal trial against Najib involving RM42 million of funds from SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former subsidiary of 1MDB.

Both 1MDB and SRC International are fully owned by the Minister of Finance Incorporated (MOF Inc).

Najib also used to be the chairperson of 1MDB’s board of advisers and served as adviser emeritus to SRC International.

The Pekan MP is serving a 12-year jail sentence, after the Federal Court on Aug 23 dismissed his appeal against the SRC International conviction over seven criminal charges, as well as the custodial term and RM210 million fine in lieu of an additional five years in jail.

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