PUTRAJAYA (Jan 21): Datuk Seri Najib Razak does not appear to see anything wrong with getting updates on the then-ongoing investigations into 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal.
At the 1MDB-Tanore trial on Tuesday, Najib was asked about an audio recording purportedly of him and Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad, a prosecuting officer at the time in 2015. Dzulkifli, who would later on become head of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), was captured in a phone conversation talking to Najib.
Najib was shown a copy of the audio recording's transcript during Tuesday's proceedings during cross examination by deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Ahmad Akram Gharib.
While Najib agreed with Akram that it was indeed a transcript of a conversation between a prosecutor and him, he saw nothing wrong with the call.
Ahmad Akram: [This is conversation of a] DPP updating you on investigations carried out against you.
Najib: Correct.
Ahmad Akram: As the then PM, you are not supposed to listen to any explanations [or updates on the investigations].
Najib: I didn't interfere.
Ahmad Akram: The fact that you lead yourself to listen [to information] on an investigation about you, it's wrong.
Najib: I disagree.
Ahmad Akram: [I put it to you that] you did enquire and you did listen to [information] regarding monies deposited in your personal account. That shows you do have a personal interest.
Najib: I disagree. I don't have a personal interest in the matter.
The voice allegedly belonging to Dzulkifli informed Najib that he had received the investigation papers, and the outlook was "not very good" for Najib, according to the 12-page transcript.
The transcript also shows that Dzulkifli voiced his concern over how serious the issue was, despite assurance that he, along with newly minted then attorney general Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali, would "handle" the legal side of things.
Najib’s wife Rosmah Mansor, according to the transcript, was also present when Dzulkifli briefed them about the investigations as the anti-money laundering division chief at the Attorney General Chambers.
Investigation papers are normally classified under the Official Secrets Act.
All in all, nine audio recordings were tendered and accepted by the court on conversations between Najib and other 1MDB-related personalities. The recordings were disclosed by former MACC chief Latheefa Koya at a press conference in 2020.
Najib has maintained throughout the trial that he can't verify the authenticity of the recording. He has also argued that the legality of recording a sitting PM's personal conversations were also questionable.
Najib denies Dzulkifli was picked to protect personal interest
Earlier on Tuesday, Najib also testified that although he had heard of rumours of a charge sheet against him in 2015, he had personally not verified its existence.
He also insisted that former attorney general Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail’s termination from his position had nothing to do with the 1MDB investigations. Abdul Gani was Mohamed Apand’s predecessor.
During cross examination by DPP Kamal Baharin Omar, Najib was also asked about Dzulkifli’s elevation to become MACC chief. He replaced Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed, who was transferred out of the anti-graft body.
Kamal Baharin: Dzulkifli and Abu Kassim's leadership is very different.
Najib: No, that is a personal opinion. Dzulkifli had experience; he didn’t come from outside.
Kamal Baharin: The change of Abu Kassim's leadership [was] because MACC was investigating you, and replacing him with Dzulkifli shows that you have a vested interest.
Najib: I disagree.
In this trial, Najib faces four abuse of power and 21 money-laundering charges.
The trial before presiding judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues on Wednesday.