Najib directly involved in handing out cheques to Umno, SRC's lawyer tells court


KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here has been told that Datuk Seri Najib Razak was the "shadow director" of SRC International Sdn Bhd and was personally and directly involved in handing out cheques worth RM16mil and RM3.5mil to Umno and Selangor Umno.

Lawyer Razlan Hadri Zulkifli, representing SRC and its subsidiaries, Gandingan Mentari Sdn Bhd and Jendela Pinggiran Sdn Bhd, when reading out the opening statement said the monies received by the defendants (Umno and Selangor Umno) were through cheques issued by Jendela Pinggiran.

He said the directors and authorised signatories of Jendela Pinggiran issued blank cheques, giving "carte blanche" to Najib who then handed the cheques over to the two defendants.

"Evidence will show that Najib was the shadow director of SRC and his knowledge of the source of funds and the manner of its use or abuse will be imputed on the defendants.

"The evidence will also demonstrate that Najib wears 'two hats' in the circumstances of this case.

"On one hand, Najib is the advisor emeritus (shadow director) of SRC, Gandingan Mentari and Jendela Pinggiran. He is also the president of the defendants (Umno and Selangor Umno)," he said during the first day of trial on Monday (Jan 20) for a lawsuit filed by SRC and its two subsidiaries against Umno and Selangor Umno in May 2021.

The hearing was before Judge Datuk Raja Ahmad Mohzanuddin Shah Raja Moh.

In the lawsuit against Umno, the plaintiffs are seeking RM16mil which they claim was wrongfully transferred to the political party, asserting that Umno had no basis to receive the funds.

The second lawsuit involves a claim for RM3.5mil against Badan Perhubungan Umno Selangor (Selangor Umno), which is also alleged to have received the funds.

According to Razlan Hadri, the monies flow from the Kumpulan Wang Amanah Pencen (KWAP) Loans granted in 2011 and 2012 amounting to a total of RM4bil to SRC.

"Out of the RM4bil received from the KWAP loans, RM3.6bil was transferred out to SRC's foreign subsidiary incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, namely SRC International (Malaysia) Ltd in 2011 and 2012 for SRC to undertake foreign investment activities in the energy and resources sector.

"The remaining RM400mil was retained by SRC in Malaysia for working capital requirements in Malaysia. Our case today is about the RM400mil working capital' sum," he said.

The first witness called in the trial was Prokhas Sdn Bhd deputy general manager Saiful Nizam Yassin, 54, who was the SRC, Jendela Pinggiran and Gandingan Mentari's company secretary at the material time.

The trial proceeded after both parties failed to reach a settlement.

Lawyer Mohamed Shahrul Fazli Kamarulzaman represented Umno and Datuk Hasnal Rezua Merican, Muzzammil Merican Hasnal Rezua represented Selangor Umno. – Bernama

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Nation

‘Don’t ignore car’s seatbelt alert, it’s there to save your life’
Special court proposed to expedite cases, solve bail issues
Sosma review must be fair to all
UTAR Hospital in demand
Driver evades JPJ, crashes lorry into Melaka residence
Over 19,000 smoking violations recorded under new Public Health Act
Study reveals nearly half of chronic kidney patients in Malaysia face job loss
Increase in number of flood victims in Pahang, Negri Sembilan tonight
Malaysia working on holding special Asean-US summit
K9 unit found no clues before Zayn Rayyan's body found, court told

Others Also Read