PUTRAJAYA: Ad hoc prosecutor Datuk V. Sithambaram told the Court of Appeal today that the defence's argument on the use of forged or cut and paste signatures by two SRC International Sdn Bhd directors to remit RM42 million into Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s personal accounts was not an issue in the case.
He said if at all there was a dispute, it was between the company and the bank, not Najib.
The defence are merely busybodies. Najib has no privity of contract with the bank. The issue of forged or unauthorised scan and electronic transfer is a non-starter, especially for the criminal breach of trust charges.
“The issue raised is a red herring by the defence and who would have the audacity to fix a then sitting Prime Minister (Najib)," he asked.
“My Lord, the appellant did not sue the bank for negligence or asked the financial institution to pay back the money…no company will keep quiet if there is no proper authorisation and withdrawal of money," he said, adding that there was evidence that the SRC directors had authorised the bank to conduct electronic transfer and the bank said it had also acted based on the mandate of SRC signatories.
He submitted this before a three-member bench led by Judge Datuk Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil in the hearing of Najib’s appeal against his conviction and jail sentence for misappropriation of RM42 million in SRC International funds.
The other two judges on the bench were Datuk Has Zanah Mehat and Datuk Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera.
The Penang-based veteran criminal lawyer said Najib had not returned the RM42 million that was deposited into his accounts although he had admitted receiving the money that belonged to SRC.
Last week, Najib’s lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah submitted that the prosecution's case would have collapsed if one of the signatories and SRC directors, Datuk Suboh Md Yassin's evidence was rejected by the trial court as he had made contradictory statements.
Suboh had told the court that he had at first told the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigators, who met him in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates on Nov 17, 2015, that the 13 signatures in the electronic fund transfer instructions to the bank were genuine.
However, when cross-examined by Muhammad Shafee, he said that he told MACC officers in Putrajaya on May 28 and 30, 2018 that his signatures could have been forged.
Suboh also said that on Aug 13 and 15, 2018, he had once again told MACC officers that the signatures were genuine.
The defence had suggested that former SRC chief executive officer Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil could have manipulated Suboh’s signature in the scanned copies before sending them to the bank to carry out the instructions to transfer funds.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court had on July 28 last year sentenced Najib to 12 years’ jail and a RM210 million fine after finding him guilty on seven charges of criminal breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of position, involving RM42 million in SRC International funds.
The hearing of the appeal continues.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Tue Apr 20 2021
Sithambaram told the Court of Appeal that Najib had not returned the RM42 million that was deposited into his accounts although he had admitted receiving the money that belonged to SRC. -- BERNAMA
Suruhanjaya Eropah saman Hungary atas dakwaan pelanggaran hak asasi
Budapest gagal hilangkan kebimbangan mengenai undang-undang baharu Hungary yang bertujuan mengehadkan pembiayaan asing bagi kempen politik.
PM Pakistan gembira atas perbincangan produktif dengan PM Malaysia
Bidang-bidang utama itu termasuk perdagangan, IT, tenaga, pertanian, eksport daging halal, pelancongan, pendidikan dan pertahanan.
Rwanda catat 7 lagi kes virus Marburg dan satu lagi kematian
Rwanda mencatatkan tujuh kes baharu penyakit virus Marburg dan satu lagi kematian.
Menurut angka terkini yang dikeluarkan lewat Rabu Kementerian Kesihatan Rwanda,
jumlah keseluruhan jangkitan virus Marburg sejak wabak bermula kini sebanyak 36 kes, dengan 11 kematian dilaporkan setakat ini.
Menurut angka terkini yang dikeluarkan lewat Rabu Kementerian Kesihatan Rwanda,
jumlah keseluruhan jangkitan virus Marburg sejak wabak bermula kini sebanyak 36 kes, dengan 11 kematian dilaporkan setakat ini.
Lebih 140 sekolah UNRWA diserang sejak 7 Oktober
Lebih 140 sekolah UNRWA diserang sejak 7 Oktober dalam keadaan dimana penduduk Gaza berlindung di bawah naungan PBB.
Perkara itu dimaklumkan Pesuruhjaya Agung Agensi Bantuan dan Kerja Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu untuk Pelarian Palestin (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini dalam satu hantaran di X.
Perkara itu dimaklumkan Pesuruhjaya Agung Agensi Bantuan dan Kerja Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu untuk Pelarian Palestin (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini dalam satu hantaran di X.
28 petugas dilapor maut dalam tempoh 24 jam lalu di Lubnan
28 petugas kesihatan dilaporkan terbunuh dalam tempoh 24 jam lalu di Lubnan.
Perkara itu dimaklumkan Ketua Pengarah Pertubuhan Kesihatan Sedunia (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus pada Khamis.
Perkara itu dimaklumkan Ketua Pengarah Pertubuhan Kesihatan Sedunia (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus pada Khamis.
UNIFIL kekal pada posisi walaupun didesak berundur
Pasukan pengaman PBB di selatan Lubnan terus bertahan pada kedudukan mereka, di bawah mandat UNSC, walaupun diarah Israel untuk berundur.
G7 desak pemain serantau di Asia Barat bertindak cermat dalam krisis
Pemimpin Kumpulan Tujuh (G7) mengulangi kebimbangan mereka terhadap krisis di Asia Barat dan menyeru pemain serantau supaya bertindak dengan bertanggungjawab serta berhemah.
Mereka turut menegaskan sokongan penuh terhadap keselamatan Israel.
Mereka turut menegaskan sokongan penuh terhadap keselamatan Israel.
AS sokong operasi Israel di Lubnan meski risiko meluaskan konflik
Pentadbiran Joe Biden menyatakan bahawa adalah wajar untuk Israel meneruskan serangan darat dan udara terhadap Hezbollah buat masa ini, menurut jurucakap Jabatan Negara Amerika Syarikat, Matthew Miller.
Namun, beliau mengakui risiko operasi di Lubnan mungkin melangkaui matlamat semasa Israel.
Namun, beliau mengakui risiko operasi di Lubnan mungkin melangkaui matlamat semasa Israel.
Shamsul Iskandar dakwa kesepakatan parti dalam PN kian longgar
Shamsul Iskandar berkata, perpecahan dalaman PN itu dapat diukur melalui prestasi mereka pada PRK DUN Nenggiri dan DUN Mahkota.
Politik stabil, dasar kerajaan tarik minat syarikat global melabur di Malaysia - Gobind
Menurut Menteri Digital Gobind Singh Deo, pada masa ini terdapat banyak perbincangan, tidak hanya antara syarikat-syarikat di negara serantau malah dunia berhubung perkara itu.