Najib’s ex-speech writer's firm received over RM22m, court hears

1MDB TRIAL | Najib Abdul Razak’s former speech writer testified that he received over RM22 million from the former prime minister over a three-year period from 2011 to 2014.

Semarak Konsortium Satu Sdn Bhd founder Mohd Omar Mustapha testified before the High Court in Kuala Lumpur that Najib personally signed 39 cheques which he received during face-to-face meetings at the then-finance minister’s office between March 2011 and April 2014.

During today’s RM2.28 billion 1MDB corruption trial against Najib, the 45th prosecution witness testified that his company was paid the amount for the service of English speech writing and international media-related work.

“From March 2011 until April 2014, over a three-year period, my company Semarak Konsortium Satu was involved in the provision of international media teams and English speech writing for Najib.

“Over that period, I, on behalf of the company, received payments from Najib for RM22,981,688 via 39 cheques from March 3, 2011, to April 23, 2014, for the services rendered,” Omar (above) said during examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Najwa Bistamam.

The witness said he offered the company’s services to Najib in March 2011 and the latter accepted, with both agreeing there was no need for a written contract over the matter.

“I also believed that Najib had confidence in me over the matter because I used to act as his chief special officer between 2004 and 2006 when he was holding the position of deputy prime minister, whereby he knew of my capabilities,” Omar added.

During cross-examination by lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, the witness reiterated that the transactions between the company and Najib did not trigger any red flags from the authorities.

“I see (met) the prime minister in his office every month for three years. I received cheques, not cash in bags. I cashed the cheques in my corporate account for three years without exception or questions from the bank and no red flags at all,” Omar told Najib’s counsel.

Objections to line of questioning

Upon further questioning from Shafee, Omar revealed that his company had engaged the late former deputy public prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram as counsel in 2013 during a court case involving a commercial dispute.

The witness said that Sri Ram received the payments from the same company account as the one used to receive monies from Najib.

Omar recalled that one of the payments to Sri Ram was for RM75,000.

Despite the prosecution’s objections, the criminal court allowed Shafee to continue with the line of cross-examination towards Omar.

The veteran lawyer explained to the court that his line of questioning was relevant as there had been alleged 'cherry picking' by the prosecution when it came to the issue of Sri Ram receiving payments from the company.

Sri Ram, a former federal court judge who used to be part of the prosecution team in the 1MDB case, passed away in January.

During questioning by Shafee, Omar said that all former Malaysian prime ministers that he knew of had engaged the service of speechwriters.

The witness said former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad relied on such services and he also claimed that even Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim used such services when he was the deputy prime minister in the 1990s.

When deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Mustaffa P Kunyalam raised an objection to the line of questioning that involved Anwar and Mahathir as irrelevant and the mere opinion of the witness, Shafee countered that the lawyer was merely trying to show that it is normal for prime ministers to engage the service of speechwriters.

Unnamed cheques

During re-examination by deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib, the witness explained that the 39 cheques were unnamed cheques and hence did not bear the printed name of Najib.

Omar said clients in the line of private banking work normally used such cheques, and that Najib signed all the cheques during their meetings.

The trial before Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues today.

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

For the four abuse of power charges, he allegedly committed the offences at AmIslamic Bank Bhd’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 accused is alleged to have committed the offences at the same bank between March 22, 2013, and Aug 30, 2013.

1MDB was a sovereign wealth fund fully owned by the Minister of Finance Incorporated (MOF Inc).

Najib had also served as the chairperson of 1MDB’s board of advisers.

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