PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Razak faced more tough scrutiny over four letters purportedly from the Saudi Arabia royal family, which the prosecution claimed to be "bogus".
Deputy Public Prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib shone the spotlight on the letters which Najib received between Feb 1, 2011, and June 1, 2014.
He suggested to Najib that in the first letter, there was no indication that the sender - Saud Abdulaziz bin Majid Al Saud - was a prince.
"But the letter bore his emblem. Yes, it did not mention he is a prince but there was the royal emblem.
"Common citizens could not use the emblem. I know this," Najib answered during cross-examination at the RM2.28bil 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) trial here in Putrajaya on Monday (Jan 13).
DPP Ahmad Akram: But you did confirm that you have never met him (Saud Abdulaziz) in person.
Najib: No (I have never).
The DPP then focused on the contents of the letter, which he read out to the court.
The letters had mainly praised Najib over his work in the Muslim world and encouraged the former Pekan MP to continue his efforts.
DPP Ahmad Akram suggested the wordings in the letters were "identical" and carried the "same tone".
DPP Ahmad Akram: You agree with me, in all four letters, the tone of the letters is personal. Like it is from Saud and not from the royal family, not from His Royal Highness King Abdullah. Saud Abdulaziz wrote it personally to you.
Najib: I don't agree. This letter would not have been sent to me if it was not by the instruction from King Abdullah. I believe that.
DPP Ahmad Akram: Like you have agreed before (with the prosecution), nowhere in this letter does it mention the meeting you had with King Abdullah.
Najib: Then how did I receive the money in my account?
Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah then interjected and told the prosecution to put this argument in its submissions.
"This is not going anywhere," the judge said.
DPP Ahmad Akram continued his cross-examination and suggested to Najib that he had no basis to assume that the letters came from King Abdullah or the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia or the Arab royal family.
He also suggested that Najib had no basis to believe that the monies in his bank account came from King Abdullah.
Najib disagreed with both suggestions.
DPP Ahmad Akram: I further put it to you, the reason why you never sent a thank you note (to the Saudis) is because you know these letters are bogus letters.
Najib: I disagree.
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 on Tuesday (Jan 14).
