PUTRAJAYA: A “royal letter” that purportedly backed Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s claims of a royal donation made no mention of a key meeting between him and the late Saudi monarch King Abdullah, the High Court has been told.
The former prime minister, who was cross-examined by the prosecution over the contents of the letter in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) case, also conceded to the prosecution’s suggestion that the letter – dated Feb 1, 2011 – made no mention of the King’s name.
Its letterhead, the prosecution said, only mentioned the name of an individual, Saud Abdulaziz bin Majid Al Saud.
In previous proceedings, Najib said the money he received in his AmIslamic Bank account was the result of a private meeting he had had with King Abdullah, who had promised him a donation in 2010.
During the trial here yesterday, deputy public prosecutor Kamal Bahrin Omar questioned Najib if Saud Abdulaziz was present during the private meeting with the King, and the former premier answered in the negative.
Kamal Bahrin: I put it to you, Saud Abdulaziz actually did not know about the meeting.
Najib: I disagree.
Kamal Bahrin also questioned Najib on how the Saudis knew Najib’s home address for the purpose of sending the letter.
Najib said his home address was a matter of public knowledge.
Kamal Bahrin: How did they (the Arab royalty who allegedly wrote the donation letters) know your address, as written in the letters?
Najib: I’m not sure.
Kamal: You never wondered how they knew your address?
Najib: My address is public knowledge.
Kamal: Is it (your address) on a website?
Najib: I’m not sure, but many people know it.
The court had previously heard that Najib received four letters from the Arab royalty – issued between Feb 1, 2011, and June 1, 2014 – with promised donations of US$100mil, US$375mil, US$800mil, and £50mil.
All four letters were addressed to Najib’s residence at Jalan Langgak Duta, Taman Duta here.
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 before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah today.
