PUTRAJAYA: A Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officer has rubbished suggestions that his promotion was due to the result of his investigation being purportedly favourable to then prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Fikri Ab Rahim (pic), 50, told the High Court that his promotion was determined by the chief commissioner.
“My promotion was determined by the MACC and (then chief commissioner) Tan Sri Abu Kassim,” said the eighth defence witness in Najib’s RM2.28bil 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) trial here yesterday.
Fikri was one of the investigating officers from the MACC who had gone to the Riyadh Palace between Nov 27 and Nov 29, 2015, to determine the authenticity of four donation letters from Saudi Arabia.
The team was also tasked to record statements from a Saudi prince, Prince Saud Abdulaziz Majid Al-Saud, who was said to have signed the donation letters addressed to Najib.
Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib had contended during cross-examination that Fikri was part of the investigating team that went to Riyadh in 2015 for a coordinated effort to favour the former prime minister, who was under investigation, and thus he was “rewarded” for his contribution.
DPP Ahmad Akram: Can I say that you are a rising star in the MACC?
Fikri: I do climb the ladder quickly.
DPP Ahmad Akram: In about 11 to 12 years, you went up the ranks to Jusa C because of your work quality and within your batch, you were the first to be promoted to Jusa C.
Fikri: I believe so.
When re-examined by Najib’s lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, Fikri said his promotion was at an accelerated pace from Grade 41 to 54, even before the Saudi trip.
He was later promoted to Jusa Grade C in 2017.
“I was in Grade 54 when I went to Saudi. I was promoted to Jusa C in 2017.
“The investigations were still ongoing. I don’t see how Najib played any role in my promotion,” Fikri said.
In the public sector, a promotion from Grade 41 to Grade 54 involved four jumps.
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 before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues tomorrow.
