PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Razak has told the High Court that he did not know how Saudi royalty obtained his personal bank account number to transfer millions of dollars, which he claimed were a promised financial donation.
The former prime minister, however, said it was possible that fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, may have shared the information with the Saudis.
During cross-examination by deputy public prosecutor Kamal Baharin Omar at the RM2.28bil 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) trial, which convened in Putrajaya yesterday, Najib was asked about his AmIslamic bank account ending 694.
DPP Kamal Baharin: How did the sender know your account number?
Najib: I am not sure.
DPP Kamal Baharin: Did you ask?
Najib: I did not ask.
Kamal Baharin: This is your personal account. How did other people know (the bank account number)?
Najib: I do not know. Maybe Jho Low shared it.
On Thursday, Najib told the court that the late King Abdullah had promised him financial support during a private meeting in 2010.
He said there were four letters from Arab royalty, issued between Feb 1, 2011, and June 1, 2014, which promised donations of US$100mil, US$375mil, US$800mil and £50mil.
All four letters bore the address of Najib’s residence in Jalan Langgak Duta, Taman Duta, Kuala Lumpur.
On Oct 30 last year, 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 on Monday.
