Bank Negara knew of Saudi donations, Najib tells court
Ho Kit Yen
-December 9, 2019 12:55 PM
Former prime minister Najib Razak says the central bank and its former governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz were aware of the ‘Arab donations’ deposited into his AmBank accounts between 2011 and 2014.KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Najib Razak told the High Court in his SRC International trial today that Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and former governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz were aware of the “Arab donations” deposited into his AmBank accounts between 2011 and 2014.
He said he spoke to Zeti, telling her that he was expecting the funds when he opened his accounts.
However, he did not specify when this conversation took place.
“She told me she had taken note of it. It was a relief for me that the central bank was informed,” he said.
He also told the court of letters informing him about the donations from late Saudi ruler King Abdullah, transferred to his AmBank account ending 694 between 2011 and 2013.
He said last week that he received US$1.05 billion from King Abdullah during that period for “corporate social responsibilities” and general election purposes.
“Azlin showed me the letters he received from Jho Low about King Abdullah’s money,” he said, referring to his late principal private secretary Azlin Alias and fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho.
“He (Low) also submitted copies of the letters to AmBank,” the former prime minister added.
He said he believed the original letters were still at the Prime Minister’s Office, and that he had told the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission of this during the agency’s investigations.
When questioned by his lawyer Rahmat Hazlan on the return of US$620 million of the $680.9 million donations received in 2013, Najib said BNM was notified so that it could make the necessary arrangements.
He said Azlin had informed him that King Abdullah also transferred £9.46 million in cash to him between October and December 2014.
He said the money came from Blackrock Commodities Pty Ltd and Vista Equity International Partners Ltd.
“I understood that the fund transfer was reported to BNM as a donation from King Abdullah, and that a letter was brought to Zeti’s attention by AmBank,” he added.
When asked whether he had informed Wisma Putra of the donations in a formal capacity, Najib said no.
“The donation was not something I tried to hide as the matter was informed to AmBank and all the transactions were reported to BNM and Zeti,” he said.
The hearing continues before High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali.
Najib faces six charges of money laundering and criminal breach of trust in the transfer of RM42 million to his account from SRC International, a former unit of 1MDB.
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.
