SRC trial : Latheefa Koya, Apandi expected to testify today

KUALA LUMPUR (March 2): Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Latheefa Koya (pictured) is expected to take the witness stand today at the SRC International Sdn Bhd trial involving former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Last week, Najib's lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah informed the court that Latheefa would be subpoenaed and asked to testify as a defence witness. 

Muhammad Shafee also told the court that former attorney-general Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali will also testify in Najib’s defence. 

In relation to the audio recordings which were released by the MACC last month, prosecutor Datuk V. Sithambaram said that the prosecution is agreeable to the defence’s request to review the recordings.

The prosecution, he said, will provide true copies of the recordings but with a caveat.

“We wish to put a caveat that by making available the recordings, this is done without prejudice to the prosecution’s right to object the admissibility of the audio recordings on grounds of relevancy, necessity or any other grounds as provided under the law,” he said.

Due to the manner in which the audio recordings were released by the MACC, Muhammad Shafee said the defence has its doubts and therefore will subpoena Latheefa to testify on the authenticity of the recordings.

The trial also will see MACC investigating officer Mohd Nasharudin Amir testifying to solve the contentious matter on Najib’s whereabouts on January 11, 2010. 

Najib claimed that he was in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at that time but pictures, which have gone viral, show that he was in Kuala Lumpur launching the 1Malaysia Development Bhd head office. 

Najib, who is the only accused in the trial, is facing seven criminal charges involving alleged misappropriation on RM42 million worth of SRC funds.

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