KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had never complained to AmBank about any mismanagement of his bank accounts, the High Court has heard.AmBank (M) Bhd Jalan Raja Chulan branch manager R. Uma Devi, 43, testified that Najib had never made any complaints relating to his bank statements to the bank and that no lawsuit was filed between 2015 and 2018.
The 37th prosecution witness said this when asked additional questions by senior deputy public prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram during the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) trial here yesterday.
Sri Ram: Does your bank have a system where a customer is sent a bank statement in intervals?
Uma Devi: Yes, every month the customer is sent a statement.
Sri Ram: In monthly intervals?
Uma Devi: Yes.
Sri Ram: Did he (the accused) ever complain about his (bank) statements to the bank?
Uma Devi: No, as far as my knowledge, even in the SRC International case, there was no dispute or complaints about his account.
Sri Ram: What about this case (1MDB)? Same answer?
Uma Devi: Yes (no complaints).
Sri Ram: Between 2015 and 2018, did the accused file any proceedings against your bank for mishandling, to your knowledge?
Uma Devi: To my knowledge, no.
On Dec 10, 2019, Najib sued AmBank Islamic Bhd and its former relationship manager Joanna Yu over the management of accounts under his name, namely accounts ending 694, 880, 898 and 906, which Najib claimed were managed by AmBank without his knowledge and used to divert funds from SRC International Sdn Bhd.
On Sept 28, 2020, the High Court allowed an application by Yu and AmBank to strike out the lawsuit on the grounds that the legal action by Najib was unsustainable.
The High Court judge found the lawsuit scandalous, frivolous, vexatious and an abuse of the court process.
Najib appealed against the decision at the Court of Appeal but lost in January this year.
Earlier, Uma Devi told the court that her evidence in court in the SRC International case – which ultimately saw the Federal Court affirming Najib’s conviction and sentence – was accepted by the High Court and the appellate court.
The court also heard that the Pekan MP issued 46 cheques amounting to RM10.3mil for payments to various parties including former deputy ministers, Umno divisions, a foundation and companies throughout 2011.
Uma Devi, who was referred to a document on Najib’s bank account ending 694 by deputy public prosecutor Najwa Bistamam, said among the recipients of the cheques were former transport deputy minister Datuk Ab Aziz Kaprawi who received RM100,000 and former international trade and industry deputy minister Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan who received RM200,000.
The Umno divisions that received the cheques were Umno Bandar Tun Razak and Umno Indera Mahkota, each receiving a RM200,000 cheque.
Payments through cheques were also made to several companies namely Jakel Trading (RM360,000), Institut Terjemahan Negara Malaysia Bhd (RM966,000), Semarak Konsortium Satu Sdn Bhd (RM2.2mil), ORB Solutions Sdn Bhd (RM2.45mil) and Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur (RM395,782).
Meanwhile, the Tun Rahah Foundation received a RM2mil cheque.
The same witness also testified that Najib received interest amounting to RM1.25mil through payments that were credited into his accounts in 11 transactions between February and December 2011.
Uma Devi said the interest for 2011 was paid in different amounts each time depending on the bank balance each month.
The proceedings were cut short to half-day yesterday as Najib had to be rushed to see the doctor for medical attention.
Sri Ram said that he was informed of Najib’s condition by a Prisons Department officer.
“The accused’s medicine on blood pressure has changed.
“It had an adverse effect on him and his condition is quite bad,” Sri Ram said.
Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah agreed to adjourn the matter in the afternoon for Najib to see a doctor.
Najib, 69, is facing four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.28bil from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.
The hearing resumes today.
