CSR vs SRC: I spent millions, didn’t know it was SRC money, says Najib

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak (pic) has admitted that he had spent tens of millions of ringgit credited into his personal bank accounts between 2014 and 2015.

The 67-year-old former premier told the High Court here on Wednesday (Jan 22) that he had spent every sen in his accounts as he thought it was from the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds that he had.

However, Najib maintained his stance that he did not know the money was SRC International Sdn Bhd funds.

When cross-examined by ad-hoc prosecutor Datuk V. Sithambaram, the Pekan MP agreed that he had spent RM27mil that was credited into his accounts in July, and RM5mil in September, 2014.

Sithambaram: RM27mil went into your account in July, you said you did not know?

Najib: Yes, I did not know that it was SRC's money, I only knew much later.

Sithambaram: But you spent every cent of it?

Najib: Yes.

Sithambaram: Did you know that RM5mil went into your account in September?

Najib: I did not know at that time.

Sithambaram: But you spent every cent of it?

Najib: Yes.

Sithambaram: In December, RM27mil went into your account. Did you know that?

Najib: At that time, I did not know.

Sithambaram: But you spent it?

Najib: Yes, I spent it... it was the CSR fund that I had.

To another question, Najib said he did not find it shocking that Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil, the former chief executive officer of SRC International, did not tell him that RM32mil was transferred into his accounts, as Nik Faisal was managing his account.

Sithambaram: So the mandate holder can keep away from you large funds going in and leaving your account, and you don't find it shocking?

Najib: Yes

Najib is making his defence on seven charges of misappropriating RM42mil in SRC International funds, comprising three counts of criminal breach of trust, three counts of money laundering and one count of abuse of position in relation to the SRC funds.

The trial before Judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali continues. – Bernama