I ran to Bangkok in 2015 when SRC became hot topic, says ex-director
V Anbalagan and Ho Kit Yen
-June 20, 2019 4:44 PM
Former SRC International Sdn Bhd director Suboh Md Yassin.KUALA LUMPUR: A former SRC International Sdn Bhd director told the High Court in Najib Razak’s corruption and abuse of power trial that he ran with his wife to Bangkok and Abu Dhabi in 2015 when the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) was investigating the company.
Suboh Md Yassin said an unidentified “MACC officer” told him not to go to the anti-graft agency’s office but to flee from Malaysia.
“I wanted to take the initiative to explain when the SRC issue became a hot topic,” he said when examined by deputy public prosecutor Ishak Mohd Yusoff.
Suboh said he could not identify the person but he spoke in Malay.
“I was afraid because at that time Najib was still in power.”
He said SRC CEO Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil told the company this involved the then prime minister.
Suboh said Nik Faisal told him: “You got to go.”
Suboh said he was in the Thai capital for a month and was also taken to Abu Dhabi where he stayed there for a week.
“My flight ticket to Abu Dhabi and accommodation was paid by someone who I don’t know,” he said.
Suboh said he returned home after a month and was directed by Nik Faisal again to leave the country after the May 9 election last year but he declined.
The 42nd witness said Nik Faisal directed him to do so to prevent enforcement authorities questioning him (Suboh).
“I made a decision not to run away but remain in Malaysia to assist the authorities in their investigations.”
Najib, 66, is facing three counts of criminal breach of trust, one charge of abusing his position and three counts of money laundering over SRC International funds amounting to RM42 million.
He is also accused of abusing his power as prime minister by giving government guarantees on SRC International’s RM4 billion loan from Retirement Fund Inc.
The Pekan MP was charged with committing the offences at AmIslamic Bank Bhd on Jalan Raja Chulan and the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya between Aug 17, 2011, and Feb 10, 2015.
