A KEY witness from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) revealed that former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak was afforded the chance to defend himself against allegations during the investigation in the ongoing trial regarding alleged abuses of power and money laundering linked to the troubled Malaysian sovereign wealth fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd.

Investigating officer Nur Aida Arifin provided oral testimony at the Kuala Lumpur High Court today during the trial against Najib, who also served as the former finance minister. The trial focuses on allegations amounting to RM2.27 bil in abuse of power and money laundering.

During cross-examination by defence counsel Wan Azwan Aiman Wan Fakhruddin, Nur Aida detailed the interrogation of Najib by the MACC in 2018. The defence counsel argued that the MACC officers only presented two documents to Najib without disclosing specific allegations or charges against him.

The documents in question were purportedly Finance Ministry records bearing Najib’s signatures related to 1MDB’s acquisition of independent power producer Mastika Lagenda Sdn Bhd in 2012.

Prosecutors allege that Najib’s associate, Low Taek Jho (commonly known as Jho Low), orchestrated 1MDB’s acquisition of Mastika Lagenda, resulting in Najib receiving a substantial sum as gratification.

“We asked questions and recorded (Najib’s) statement in a narrative style. The witness or accused is given the opportunity to explain in detail,” Nur Aida told trial judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah.

The trial which resumes tomorrow on a Saturday (April 27), marks a departure from its usual schedule and underscores the significance of the proceedings.

Najib faces four charges of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering related to transactions at AmIslamic Bank Bhd’s Jalan Raja Chulan branch in Kuala Lumpur between 2011 and 2014.

The alleged money laundering offences spanning from March to August 2013 are linked to the same bank. It’s worth noting that 1MDB is wholly owned by the Minister of Finance Incorporated (MOF Inc) with Najib serving as the chairperson of 1MDB’s board of advisers during the period under scrutiny. - April 26, 2024

https://focusmalaysia.my/macc-investigating-officer-testifies-in-najibs-1mdb-trial-former-pm-given-opportunity-to-explain/