KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak told the High Court today that he has nothing to hide in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) financial scandal.
The former prime minister maintained that he had been transparent about the millions of ringgit deposited into his AmIslamic account, which he consistently claimed were political donations from the Saudi royal family.
"I would like to emphasise that I was transparent from the very beginning.
"I was informed that I would be receiving funds as a donation from the late King Abdullah, and I immediately informed the then Ambank group managing director Cheah Tek Kuang about this when I opened the account, a step I was not obligated to take.
"At that time, I was a textbook example of what is defined as a politically exposed person.
"I also requested Cheah to inform Bank Negara Malaysia, which he did, notifying the then governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz," he said.
The 71-year-old said this in his witness statement in his defence against all power abuse and money laundering charges involving RM2.3 billion of 1MDB funds.
Najib said the funds were spent in accordance with the trust reposed on him by King Abdullah for political and corporate social responsibility.
He said he meticulously recorded all of his expenditures by issuing cheques from the AmIslamic account to ensure transparency and proper documentation.
The former Pekan member of Parliament said he was concerned over the clear evidence of collusion between former 1MDB top executives and fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho in the misappropriation of billions of ringgit from 1MDB.
"It appears to be brushed aside, excused, or conveniently ignored.
"To me, this feels deeply unsettling and personal, as it suggests that their primary role in this case is not to seek the truth, but to distort it, provide false testimony, and implicate me in what seems to be a politically motivated prosecution aimed solely at securing my conviction," he added.
Najib faces 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 presiding judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues.