Najib: I was misled by the signatures

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 6): Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak repeatedly said he was misled by the signatures which he said resembled his own, on several SRC International Sdn Bhd documents that led him to admit signing off on several documents, when the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) recorded his statement in 2012.

During cross-examination today, deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Datuk V Sithambaram grilled the former premier over the documents that contained his signature and whether he had knowledge of the nature of the said documents, labelled as exhibits D535, P501 and D534.

These documents were minutes of meetings and directors’ circular resolutions (DCR) relating to the request for an additional RM2 billion loan from Retirement Fund Inc (KWAP) to SRC.

“You [told the MACC] that you had read the content of the documents,” the DPP said.

“Yes, but it was only in passing. It was towards the end of the interview,” Najib said.

Sithambaram then read out Najib’s MACC statement, highlighting he had said he was shown the documents and was questioned over the contents of the documents.

“You confirmed [with the MACC] that you have seen the documents, correct? You knew exactly what the document was. You knew the nature of the document. You said the contents of the DCR [directors’ circular resolution] was in your knowledge,” Sithambaram pressed.

“I assumed [I have seen the documents] because the signature appeared as though I signed it. I can’t keep track of everything. I can’t remember the details. It happened nine years ago,” the former premier replied.

“I vaguely remember, but I was basing [my statement] on the signature. As the Prime Minister and Finance Minister ... when you’re running a country, you have a thousand and one things to handle in a day. This happened so long ago,” Najib added.

“That is the mantra. [You sound] like a record that keeps saying the same thing,” Sithambaram said.

Sithambaram continued to grill him over his knowledge of the matter, but Najib maintained he cannot remember all the details and that it has been years since he gave his statement to the MACC.

The DPP also pointed out that Najib told the MACC that he did sign the document, instead of telling the commission that the signatures on the documents merely resembled his own signature.

“I put it to you that you were not misled by the signature — you are misleading the court,” he added.

“No, I don’t agree with that,” Najib said.

During the earlier part of today’s proceedings, the prosecution applied to impeach Najib under Section 145(1) and Section 155(c) of the Evidence Act, questioning his credibility as a witness after the former premier had agreed there were contradictions between his statement made to the MACC, and what he said in court.

The application was subsequently dismissed by Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali, as the court found no material contradictions in the statements made by the witness.

“Having examined these statements, in my view, they are not irreconcilable, because the apparent change in stand by the accused in the supplementary witness statement as to whether he had signed the exhibits or not, is accompanied by his attempt to explain the basis for his earlier answers to MACC.

“As such, I find that there are no material contradictions or serious discrepancies between the two statements as highlighted vis-a-vis the four exhibits. There is therefore no justification to pursue the impeachment process against the accused, in respect of this specific application by the prosecution,” the judge said.

The ex-premier is facing seven counts of criminal breach of trust, abuse of power and money laundering, involving RM42 million from SRC.

If found guilty, he is liable to a 20-year jail term and a fine of RM5 million or five times the amount of money laundered, whichever is higher.

The Edge is reporting the proceedings of the SRC trial live.

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