KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here today was told that Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was promised an additional US$1.17 billion cash gift from an individual alleged to be a member of the Saudi royal family as an appreciation for the former premier's significant work in introducing Islam to the rest of the world.
Based on the two letters read in court by Najib's counsel Wan Aizuddin Wan Mohammed, the cash gift was promised to be remitted into Najib's personal bank account by a Saudi prince, Saud Abdulaziz Majid Al Saud via two transactions, namely US$375 million on Nov 1, 2011, and US$800 million on March 1, 2013.
Last week, Najib's defence team presented another purported letter from the same Saudi prince dated Feb 1, 2011, that allegedly promised a US$100 million cash gift to Najib as a recognition for his contribution to the Islamic world.
Bearing a letterhead by the Private Office of Saud Abdulaziz Majid Al Saud, who was the former governor of Madinah Province and a member of the House of Saud, the letters stated that the gift was in view of the friendship that the two have developed over the years as well as recognising Najib's new ideas as a modern Islamic leader.
Wan Aizuddin was referring the letters to the 38th prosecution witness, AmBank Private Banking Capital Market Head Desk, Yap Wai Keat, 57, during cross-examination at Najib's trial involving the misappropriation of RM2.3 billion from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
"The letters also mentioned the cash gift shall be remitted to Datuk Seri Najib's account via the prince's personal bank account or through His Highness' instructed companies bank accounts, Tanore Finance Corporation and Blackstone Asia Real Estate Partners Limited.
"It was also alluded in the letters that Datuk Seri Najib shall have absolute discretion to determine how the monies will be utilised and it (monies) should not, in any event, be construed as an act of corruption since this is against the practice of Islam and the prince personally do not encourage such practices (corruption) in any manner," the lawyer said.
It was previously reported that the United States Department of Justice had identified that Tanore Finance Corporation and Blackstone Asia Real Estate Partners Limited were controlled by fugitive businessman, Low Taek Jho (Jho Low) using the identity of his associate Eric Tan Kim Loong.
Wan Aizuddin then questioned the witness whether he had any knowledge about the two letters prior to this 1MDB trial, which the witness answered in the positive.
"I think possibly (have knowledge of the letters) because, in order to proceed with the remittance, we will need to know what is the purpose code of these monies, whereby Datuk Seri's AmBank account relationship manager (Joanna Yu) had told me that it was a gift and there are letters that came with it.
"However, I cannot confirm for sure whether there was a possibility that Joanna Yu had given me the letters at the point of time of these transactions.
"She might have shown to me, but I cannot recall due to a lot of documents which I have gone through for the past years," said the witness who is handling AmBank's foreign exchange deposits from 2010 until 2014.
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 this afternoon.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Mon Oct 03 2022
![Najib was promised an additional US$1.17 bln cash gift by Saudi prince, Court told Najib was promised an additional US$1.17 bln cash gift by Saudi prince, Court told](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-10/81664779994_950x600.jpg)
The Kuala Lumpur High Court today was told that Najib Razak was promised an additional US$1.17 billion cash gift from an individual alleged to be a member of the Saudi royal family. - File photo
![Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-12/61703329565_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Berikut adalah berita yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang Isnin, 15 Julai 2024.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-12/61702135893_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah antara yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
10 Berita Pilihan - (15 Julai 2024)
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![Malaysia kekurangan tekong tempatan untuk kapal nelayan - Mohamad Malaysia kekurangan tekong tempatan untuk kapal nelayan - Mohamad](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/71719407016_tbMohamadSabu.jpg)
Malaysia kekurangan tekong tempatan untuk kapal nelayan - Mohamad
"LKIM perlu berusaha melahirkan lebih ramai tekong negara pada masa akan datang, dan bayaran untuk tekong ini selalunya gaji lebih lumayan."
![Pemberian insentif kepada pengeluar gula tempatan diteruskan - Kementerian Kewangan Pemberian insentif kepada pengeluar gula tempatan diteruskan - Kementerian Kewangan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-05/81683177513_Gula.jpg)
Pemberian insentif kepada pengeluar gula tempatan diteruskan - Kementerian Kewangan
Pemberian insentif itu telah bermula pada November 2023, namun ia tidak bersifat kekal atau bantuan dalam jangka masa yang panjang.
![Berlarilah bebas tanpa tekanan di Paris, Azeem - Watson Nyambek Berlarilah bebas tanpa tekanan di Paris, Azeem - Watson Nyambek](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41721046516_tbWatsonNyambek.jpg)
Berlarilah bebas tanpa tekanan di Paris, Azeem - Watson Nyambek
Penantian selama 24 tahun untuk melihat kelibat pelari pecut Malaysia dalam acara 100 meter (m) lelaki pada Sukan Olimpik akan berakhir dengan penampilan jaguh negara Muhammad Azeem Mohd Fahmi.
![Perut kejang: bagaimana ibu bapa boleh atasi masalah sembelit kanak-kanak Perut kejang: bagaimana ibu bapa boleh atasi masalah sembelit kanak-kanak](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-06/41686829599_ToiletPaper.jpg)
Perut kejang: bagaimana ibu bapa boleh atasi masalah sembelit kanak-kanak
Masalah sembelit atau Functional constipation (FC) merujuk kepada kesulitan untuk membuang najis, merupakan satu daripada gangguan gastrointestinal yang biasa terjadi kepada kanak-kanak.
Tumpuan Selasa – 16 Julai 2024
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan di Astro AWANI.
![Kontinjen Pulau Pinang capai 98 peratus persiapan SUKMA XXI Kontinjen Pulau Pinang capai 98 peratus persiapan SUKMA XXI](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41721043265_tbSUKMAXXI.jpg)
Kontinjen Pulau Pinang capai 98 peratus persiapan SUKMA XXI
Kontinjen Pulau Pinang telah mencapai 98 peratus persiapan bagi menghadapi kejohanan Sukan Malaysia (SUKMA) XXI di Sarawak yang akan berlangsung pada 17 hingga 25 Ogos depan.
![Kementerian Pengangkutan giat tambah baik kemudahan perhentian bas Kementerian Pengangkutan giat tambah baik kemudahan perhentian bas](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41721043316_tbAnthonyLokeCom.jpg)
Kementerian Pengangkutan giat tambah baik kemudahan perhentian bas
Kementerian Pengangkutan memperhebat usaha untuk menambah baik kemudahan pengangkutan awam dan mesra pejalan kaki di Kuala Lumpur, khususnya perhentian dan stesen bas.