Defence in Najib's 1MDB trial presents letter from Saudi prince on US$100 mln cash gift

KUALA LUMPUR: The defence in Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) RM2.3 billion graft trial today submitted a letter from the royal family of Saudi Arabia stating that the former prime minister received a cash gift of US$100 million as a recognition of his contribution to the Islamic world.

The letter, bearing a letter head by the Private Office of Saud Abdulaziz Majid Al Saud, who is a former governor of Madinah Province and a member of House of Saud, said the gift was in view of the friendship that the two had developed over the years as well as in appreciation of Najib's new ideas as a modern Islamic leader.

Najib's counsel Wan Aizuddin Wan Mohammed, when reading out the letter signed by the prince on Feb 1, 2011, said the letter among others stated that the prince granted Najib US$100 million as a gift which shall be remitted to Najib's account.

"The letter also stated that Najib shall have absolute discretion to determine how the gift shall be utilised to promote Islam so it continues to flourish, and the prince added he did not expect to receive any personal benefit whether directly or indirectly as a result of the gift," said the lawyer.

Wan Aizuddin was questioning the 37th prosecution witness, AmBank (M) Berhad Jalan Raja Chulan branch manager R. Uma Devi, about the letter during cross-examination, while referring her to two documents regarding deposits amounting to RM60.6 million and RM30.2 million received by Najib between February and June 2011.

Wan Aizuddin: Would you agree that there is an irresistible conclusion that the US$100 million mentioned in the letter and these two transactions would be a personal gift?

Uma Devi: I cannot conclude because the amount differs and (am) also not sure whether the letter was given to the bank prior to these transactions.

Wan Aizuddin: From the branch's side, this letter has never been cited?

Uma Devi: Yes.

The 43-year-old banker also testified that nothing was done to stop the remittance of US$620 million into Najib's bank account in August 2013, as no red flag was triggered by the bank when the transactions took place.

She explained that there were several trigger points which the bank looked for, such as the amount of transfer, the purpose, and disclosure of information from the customer.

"A screening will be done based on these trigger points. The customer will not be informed (of red flag) as this would alert them," she said, adding that the customer will not be alerted to enable the bank to conduct its investigations when the red flag is raised.

Najib, 69, 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.

-- BERNAMA