Former Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak took to the witness stand again as his trial on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) corruption charges continues. In a testimony that delved into the management of his AmIslamic bank accounts, Najib denied allegations that he had sought preferential treatment or hidden his identity, insisting that the billions funneled through his accounts were donations from Saudi royalty.
Speaking at the High Court, Najib addressed claims by the prosecution regarding the codenames assigned to his AmIslamic bank accounts, which are at the center of the corruption case. Najib stated he never requested codenames such as “AmPrivate Banking-MR” or “AmPrivate Banking-1MY.” Instead, he attributed the decision to AmBank’s internal policies.
“It was AmBank’s operations team that proposed these codenames to ensure confidentiality, given the high-profile nature of the accounts,” Najib explained. He referred to former AmBank managing director Cheah Tek Kuang’s testimony, which corroborated this claim, highlighting that the decision was aimed at safeguarding sensitive information. “I was neither consulted about this decision nor did I request any special arrangements,” Najib added.
Najib emphasized that he had not attempted to conceal his ownership of the accounts. When opening the accounts in 2011 and 2013, he used his full legal name, “Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak,” as it appeared on his national identity card. Banking documents presented in court also listed his employment as “Prime Minister’s Department of Malaysia,” further reinforcing his assertion of transparency.
In contrast to other individuals implicated in the 1MDB scandal, such as fugitive financier Low Taek Jho (better known as Jho Low), Najib noted he did not open offshore accounts under corporate aliases. “I had no reason to hide my identity or the fact that I was receiving donations from King Abdullah. On the contrary, I was honored and grateful for His Majesty’s support,” Najib said.
Central to Najib’s defense is his claim that the funds deposited into his accounts were personal donations from the late King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. According to Najib, he opened the AmIslamic accounts specifically to receive these contributions, which were intended for his use at his discretion.
He cited a letter dated February 1, 2011, from Prince Saud Abdulaziz Majid Al Saud, who Najib claims acted as King Abdullah’s representative. The letter detailed a US$100 million donation meant as a “gift.” Najib testified that he ultimately received approximately US$99.99 million (equivalent to RM304.3 million) in his account ending in 9694 through four separate transactions in 2011.
Najib also recounted the process of opening his AmIslamic accounts, stating that Cheah Tek Kuang personally visited his residence to complete the paperwork. “At that time, I was the Prime Minister. Walking into a bank branch would have created a stir among staff and customers,” Najib said, explaining why the account opening was conducted discreetly.
Najib claimed he was upfront about the purpose of the accounts, informing Cheah that the funds were a donation from Saudi Arabia. He also instructed Cheah to notify Bank Negara Malaysia (the central bank) about the transactions, despite not being legally obligated to do so. This step, Najib argued, was another demonstration of his commitment to transparency.
The prosecution has alleged that the billions funneled through Najib’s accounts were misappropriated 1MDB funds. However, Najib’s testimony sought to refute this, focusing on the matching sums between the purported Saudi donations and the amounts deposited into his account.
The first two deposits, US$10 million each, form part of Najib’s abuse of power charges. These transactions were among several scrutinized during the trial, which involves 25 criminal charges against Najib, including four counts of abuse of power.
Najib also shed light on the role of his former principal private secretary, the late Datuk Azlin Alias, in facilitating the process. According to Najib, Azlin suggested that he open the accounts and coordinated with Cheah to ensure the donations could be received. When asked how Azlin learned about the impending contributions, Najib speculated that Jho Low may have been the intermediary.
Najib’s trial, presided over by Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, continues to draw national and international attention. While Najib maintains his innocence, claiming the funds were legitimate donations, the prosecution is adamant that the accounts were used to launder money stolen from 1MDB.
Information Source: Malay Mail
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