PUTRAJAYA: The High Court was told that Datuk Seri Najib Razak was not behind the disbandment of a multi-agency special task force that investigated 1Malaysia Development Bhd in 2015.
The former prime minister, who was testifying in his defence trial, said he never directed for a change of Attorney General and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner that year.
"The claim that I took steps to cause the removal of the MACC chief commissioner and influenced the closure of the 1MDB case is entirely baseless and misconceived.
"The changes in leadership at both the MACC and the Attorney General’s Chambers were part of an administrative reshuffling and had nothing to do with any directive or interference from me," he said at the 1MDB trial that took place in Putrajaya on Tuesday (Jan 7).
In the case of former AG Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, Najib said he intended to recommend Abdul Gani's appointment as a Federal Court judge but the plan did not materialise.
"The suggestion that his replacement as the AG was motivated by a desire to stymie investigations into 1MDB is simply false," Najib said.
On Tan Sri Abu Kassim’s departure from the MACC, Najib said it was similarly an administrative decision and he denied having played any role in the removal.
"The MACC continued its investigations into 1MDB under new leadership, and there was no interruption in its work.
"It is important to emphasise that such transitions in leadership are routine in governance and do not imply malfeasance or ulterior motives," Najib added.
The former Pekan MP told the court that the assertion that the new AG (Tan Sri Apandi Ali) had "closed the 1MDB case" was "misleading".
The investigations into 1MDB were ongoing through multiple agencies, including Bank Negara Malaysia, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), and law enforcement bodies, Najib said.
"These investigations continued without impediment, as evidenced by the subsequent actions taken by these entities.
"The claim is clearly designed to create a narrative of interference where none exists. It disregards the institutional realities of administrative reshuffling and the continued efforts," he added.
On Oct 30, Najib was ordered by the High Court to enter his defence on 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 hearing continues this afternoon before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah.
