News by Timothy Achariam

In his first interview with the media since fleeing Malaysia in 2015, the fugitive told Singapore’s The Straits Times newspaper that he is a convenient scapegoat in the multibillion-dollar global financial scandal by virtue of not being a politician.

Najib told the court he had next to no knowledge of the funds in his account when issuing cheques amounting to millions of ringgit.

However, when asked again by appointed prosecutor Datuk V Sithambaram later, the former premier said he was not sure whether he signed it and wants the original meeting minutes to be produced to have it verified.

Najib told the court today he had next to no knowledge of the funds in his account when issuing cheques amounting to millions of ringgit.

A directors’ circular resolution (DCR) from 1MDB’s board dated Oct 11, 2011 that bore the signatures of 1MDB directors Tan Sri Lodin Wok Kamaruddin, Tan Sri Ismee Ismail, Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi, Tan Sri Ong Gim Huat and Ashvin Jethanand Valiram was attached with a special rights redeemable preference shareholder’s resolution in writing dated Sept 15, 2011 that bore Najib’s signature.

He maintained that there is a need for a writing expert to verify the authenticity of the documents and the signatures.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Norinna Bahadun had applied to have the case against Goldman Sachs International and Goldman Sachs (Asia) LLC tried at the High Court.

In hearing the application put forth by Najib's lawyers, Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah ruled that the defence be given access to the documents, which are currently being held by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

He said this in reply to Thomas' retort during the cross-examination, as the latter accused Najib of doing nothing when the funds were revealed to be transferred overseas.

Najib said the movement of the money was an operational matter, and that as the Finance Minister and advisor emeritus of SRC, he was only concerned with policy matters.