1MDB Trial: Prosecution wants to use Najib audio that MACC revealed

1MDB TRIAL | Prosecutors are seeking to bring in an audio recording of an alleged conversation between former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak and a Middle-Eastern leader.

Deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Gopal Sri Ram told the Kuala Lumpur High Court this afternoon that the audio recording is to bolster the prosecution’s counter against the accused’s reliance on the claim of an alleged Arab donation.

The prosecutor told trial judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah that the audio recording is not meant to function as an exhibit but rather for an “identification purpose”.

Sri Ram said it is merely to allow prosecution witnesses to ascertain whether one of the voices in the recording is that of former finance minister Najib (above).

“The contents of the recording of the (audio) tape and transcript would go to some extent to rebut that the accused (Najib) received (Arab) donation, that he was dealing with money donated to him,” the DPP orally submitted as the accused looked on from the dock.

Sri Ram also contended that the audio recording is not only admissible per Section 41A of the MACC Act 2009, but that it was still admissible regardless of whether it was “improperly, irregularly, or even illegally” obtained.

Previously, it was reported that the defence is relying on the allegation that Najib believed the funds that went into his bank account were from Saudi royalty rather than money from 1MDB.

The accused’s lead defence counsel then informed the court that they would give oral submissions next week over their objections to the admission of the audio recording.

The defence previously contended that the audio recording is not admissible, due to reasons that it involved a conversation between two heads of state and that the recording was not properly obtained.

The RM2.28 billion 1MDB corruption trial before Sequerah would resume tomorrow.

The audio recording was part of multiple recordings that were revealed by then MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya in January 2020.

They purportedly involved Najib and other 1MDB-linked individuals.

Abuse of power, money laundering charges

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

In regards to the four abuse of power charges, the former Pekan MP was alleged to have committed the offences 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 counts, the former finance minister was 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 fugitive businessperson Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, and several others with Najib’s blessing.

However, the accused’s defence team claimed that Najib 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.

The BN advisory chairperson is serving a 12-year jail sentence after the Federal Court on Aug 23 dismissed his appeal against the RM42 million SRC International corruption case conviction.

Initially a subsidiary of 1MDB, SRC later became fully owned by MOF Inc. Najib also used to be adviser emeritus to SRC.

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