RM42 million from SRC ‘peanuts’ for Najib, prosecution tells appeals court

The RM42 million in SRC International funds utilised by Najib Razak was peanuts for him, the Court of Appeal was told today.

Ad hoc prosecutor V Sithambaram submitted this before a three-member bench led by judge Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil in the hearing of Najib’s appeal against his conviction and jail sentence for the misappropriation of RM42 million in SRC International funds.

The other two judges on the bench were Has Zanah Mehat and Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera.

Sithambaram said the RM42 million was peanuts for the former prime minister as he had earlier taken a RM2.6 billion donation.

“In this case, Najib had full control over the company (SRC International) and whenever he needed money, he took it. My Lord, earlier, he had taken RM2.6 billion, this is just ‘kacang’ (peanuts) for him,” said Sithambaram.

Last year, Najib testified at the Kuala Lumpur High Court that he had received a RM2.6 billion donation from the Saudi royal family between 2011 and 2014.

The High Court on July 28 last year sentenced him to 12 years’ jail and fined him RM210 million after finding him guilty on seven charges of criminal breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of position involving RM42 million in SRC International funds.

The hearing of the appeal continues.