KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak said he had never known or met former SRC International Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil, despite authorising him to manage two bank accounts in his name.
The former prime minister said the appointment of Nik Faisal as the authorised signatory to the accounts in 2011 was made based on a strong recommendation from his then principal private secretary, the late Datuk Azlin Alias, and Nik Faisal’s professional credentials as an accountant.
Nik Faisal fled the country and has remained at large since the fall of the Barisan Nasional federal government following the 14th General Election in 2018.
The former Pekan member of parliament said this when testifying in a civil suit against him filed by SRC International and its subsidiary, Gandingan Mentari Sdn Bhd.
Najib said the two bank accounts in Ambank were not meant for personal use, but were intended to receive contributions for corporate social responsibility activities.
“The accounts were not personal in the sense that I used them for personal matters.
“They were in my name, but the purpose was to receive contributions to carry out CSR,” he said during cross-examination by lawyer Kwan Will Sen, who appeared for the company.
However, he conceded that this intention was never recorded in writing nor formally communicated to the bank.
“The intention was not stated in writing, but in my own understanding, the funds received were to be channelled to CSR activities.”
Najib also stressed that he did not personally draft the letter appointing Nik Faisal as the authorised person to manage the accounts, and said he never anticipated that any issue would arise from the arrangement.
The suit, filed in 2021, among others seeks a declaration that Najib is responsible for the receipt of RM42 million, as well as damages over allegations of knowing receipt of the funds, dishonest assistance, misfeasance in public office and abuse of power.
In earlier proceedings, the court was told that the RM42 million, which was meant to finance CSR projects, was transferred into two personal Ambank accounts belonging to Najib.
Former Yayasan Rakyat 1Malaysia (YR1M) chief executive officer Ung Su Ling previously testified that she only learned the accounts belonged to Najib through media reports during the SRC criminal trial.
She also said she was unaware the funds originated from SRC when she received instructions from the late Azlin to facilitate the transfer of funds from Ihsan Perdana Sdn Bhd.
The trial before High Court judge Datuk Raja Ahmad Mohzanuddin Shah Raja Mohzan resumes tomorrow.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
