Najib’s lawyer attempted to pin everything that had gone wrong and the embezzlement of the company’s funds on Low, but this was brushed off by the investigating officer of the case.
“Jho Low was treating the company like it belonged to his father, wasn't he.
“He is the one who controlled the accounts through his associates and is ultimately responsible for all the wrongdoings, isn’t he?” Najib’s lawyer, Harvinderjit Singh, said when cross examining Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigating officer Senior Assistant Commissioner Rosli Hussain.
Harvinderjit repeatedly shot questions of a similar nature to Rosli, but the 54-year old graft buster did not budge and was steadfast in his answers.
He consistently rejected the lawyer’s suggestions that Najib had been duped by Low, who was blamed for manipulating SRC International and several other companies which had been implicated in the scandal.
The companies named included Putra Perdana Construction Sdn Bhd, Ihsan Perdana Sdn Bhd (IPSB) and Gandingan Mentari Sdn Bhd (GMSB).
Harvinderjit then said Rosli was denying his suggestions as the MACC had failed to conduct a thorough investigation into the case.
However, Rosli disagreed with such assertion and said his investigation showed that whatever was done “did not benefit Low”.
Earlier, Rosli also stood firm when Harvinderjit attempted to pressure him on the authenticity of Najib’s signatures on documents which had been tendered as evidence in the case.
He maintained that the signatures were indeed Najib’s, and as far as he was concerned the documents were originals which had been obtained from AmBank, where the former finance minister had opened his accounts.
To another question, Rosli confirmed that MACC investigations showed that RM642 million had flowed in Najib’s accounts from Prince Faisal Turki and also the Ministry of Finance in Riyadh.
Harvinderjit: Can you confirm that there was money which went into his account from Prince Faisal Turki.
Rosli: Yes
Harvinderjit: The amount was RM369 million
Rosli: Yes... thereabouts... it was a lot of money
Harvinderjit: There was also money which came in from the Ministry of Finance in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Rosli: Yes
Harvinderjit: The amount was RM243 million
Rosli: Yes
After some tense moments during the cross examination, there were also some lighthearted exchanges between the duo.
This happened when Harvinderjit did not want to get off Rosli’s back after the latter said he could not remember the full name of another MACC investigating officer who was involved in probing the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal.
Harvinderjit: Her name is Aidah... she is also a senior assistant commissioner
Rosli: Yes
Harvinderjit: What is her full name?
Rosli: I cannot remember
Harvinderjit: But she is your colleague?
Rosli: Yes she is my colleague... colleague yes, but she is not my wife so I cannot remember her full name.
His response had everyone laughing and Harvinderjit, who joined in the appreciation of the witty response, eventually moved on to another question.
Najib, 66, is facing six charges of money laundering and criminal breach of trust in the transfer of RM42 million of SRC International funds into his accounts.
He is also accused of abusing his power as prime minister by giving government guarantees on SRC International’s RM4 billion loan from the Retirement Fund Inc (KWAP).
The Pekan member of parliament was charged with committing the offences at the AmIslamic Bank Bhd in Jalan Raja Chulan and the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya between Aug 17, 2011, and Feb 10, 2015.
He faces 20 years’ jail if convicted. The trial before High Court Judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali continues.