KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak had numerous chances to explain himself regarding all the allegations while he was being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

MACC senior officer Nur Aida Arifin said the MACC had recorded Najib's statement by interrogating him in a narrative-style.

Nur Aida said this when testifying under cross-examination by Najib's lawyer Wan Azwan Aiman Wan Fakhruddin before the High Court today.

She was a prosecution key witness in Najib's corruption trial for misappropriating millions of funds belonging to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

Nur Aida said the investigators did not ask specific questions when taking Najib's statement.

"But when we refer to (the documents), we would ask Najib to fully explain - including actions and matters related to the issue.

"We ask questions and we record them in a narrative manner, and he was given the opportunity to explain in detail.

"I believe there were questions posed (to Najib) when the documents were shown to him," she said.

Wan Azman had earlier suggested that Nur Aida, who was the investigating officer in the case, had only shown documents without revealing any specific criminal allegations while interrogating the former prime minister.

Nur Aida disagreed with this assertion.

Najib, 70, is facing four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.

The trial before judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2024/04/1042886/najib-had-ample-opportunity-explain-allegations-1mdb-probe-macc