Witness in 1MDB trial admits statement drafted by her officers

A former official of the finance ministry admitted at the Kuala Lumpur High Court today that her witness statement for Najib Razak’s 1MDB trial was drafted by two of her officers at the time without her presence.

Siti Zauyah Mohd Desa, 63, who was the ministry’s deputy secretary-general, said it was drafted by two individuals who were handling the loan.

"It was drafted by my officers but it was never in my presence. I was just given the documents," she said.

The 26th prosecution witness said this when cross-examined by lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, representing Najib at the former prime minister's trial for the misappropriation of RM2.3 billion from 1MDB.

She said this when asked if she had prepared the statement or not. 
 
Shafee: You don’t know who drafted it?

Siti Zauyah: I know a few names, namely Afidah and Azmida. They were handling the loan part.

She also admitted that the statement was given to her at the last minute to be signed, and that she did not have enough time to peruse it beforehand.

Shafee: Everything stated in the statement was within your knowledge?

Siti Zauyah: I do not know whether it was within my knowledge.
 
Shafee then said it was good that the witness was "telling the truth" about who drafted the witness statement.

Shafee then read the final page of Siti Zauyah's 40-page witness statement which was previously tendered in court as evidence, specifically the line where she said the witness statement was true based on her knowledge.

"But in truth, the details that were put in your statement, you do not know the whole lot to be true, to be accurate from your personal knowledge?" he said. 

To this, Siti Zauyah said "Yes."

The lawyer then requested a short break to discuss this development with the prosecution.

Earlier, when the proceedings started at 10.42am, Najib who is currently serving a 12-year jail term was seen sitting in the dock without handcuffs.

Najib, 69, faces four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.

The trial before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues.