KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak told the High Court that he had never set foot at AmIslamic Bank in Jalan Raja Chulan, a location that was mentioned in the first charge he faced in the RM2.28bil 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) graft trial.
"No, I have never set foot at AmIslamic Bank, Jalan Raja Chulan Kuala Lumpur between that period, nor have I ever been there at any other material times in relation to the entire 1MDB or SRC (International Sdn Bhd) episodes," he said here on Monday (Dec 2).
According to the first charge relating to abuse of power, Najib was accused of committing the offence at an AmIslamic Bank Bhd branch in Jalan Raja Chulan between Feb 24, 2011 and Dec 19, 2014.
Najib, who was reading from his 525-page witness statement, said that he was never asked by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to explain about the alleged use of his position at AmIslamic Bank during the material time.
When asked by his lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, Najib said he only heard about the offence being allegedly committed at the bank branch when the charge was read out to him in court.
"I was so puzzled that I had to inquire from my lawyers about this allegation while the charges were being read to me," he said.
Najib is facing four counts of using his position to obtain RM2.28bil gratification from 1MDB's funds and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same amount.
The abuse of power offences were allegedly committed at an AmIslamic Bank Bhd branch, Jalan Raja Chulan, Bukit Ceylon between Feb 24, 2011 and Dec 19, 2014.
Meanwhile, the money laundering offences were allegedly committed at the same location between March 22 and Aug 30, 2013.
The charges were framed under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 and punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act.
If he is convicted at the end of the defence case, Najib is facing imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of five times the amount of gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
The hearing continues before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah tomorrow.
