Najib gave RM8.4 million in cheques between 2011 and 2012, bank officer tells court

The Kuala Lumpur High Court was today told that Najib Razak issued 38 cheques for RM8.4 million from his personal account as payment to 18 individuals, six political entities and six companies between 2011 and 2012.

AmBank (M) Bhd senior manager (cheque processing centre division) Badrul Hisam Mohamad, 48, said the individual recipients of the cheques included former land and cooperative development minister Kasitah Gaddam and former human resources minister Richard Riot Jaem, each amounting to RM100,000.

The 36th prosecution witness also confirmed that RM1,428,250 in cheques was given to six companies; RM4,670,000 to five Umno branches and divisions; RM200,000 to the Tun Razak Barisan Nasional branch; and RM2,107,600 to 18 individuals, from Najib's personal AmBank account ending with number 694.

"Najib issued a cheque for RM200,000 that was paid to Pekan Umno, RM170,000 to Pekan Umno Wanita, RM1.9 million to Selangor Umno Wanita, RM2 million to Selangor Umno, RM400,000 to Machang Umno and RM200,000 to the Tun Razak Barisan Nasional division.

"Among the companies that received the cheques from Najib were Qalif Umar Creative (RM130,000), Semarak Konsortium Satu Sdn Bhd (RM274,750), Gading Emas Management Services (RM50,000), Fanisa Consultancy And Services (RM95,000) and Two One Holidays Malaysia Sdn Bhd (RM178,000)," he said.
 
Badrul said this when reading out his witness statement during examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Deepa Nair Thevaharan in the Pekan MP’s trial for the misappropriation of RM2.3 billion in funds from 1MDB.

Referring to the scanned copies of the cheques by AmIslamik Bank Bhd, Jalan Raja Chulan branch, for Najib's account ending with the number 694, Badrul said he was able to identify Najib's signature because the signature was recorded in the signature database system which he had to refer to for comparison and verification purposes.

Meanwhile, when cross-examined by lawyer Wan Aizuddin Wan Mohammed, representing Najib, the witness said that the bank would contact the customer to confirm the transaction if the payment for a cheque issued amounted to more than RM20,000.

"We, at the cheque processing division, do not make the call personally, but the officers at the AmBank branch will decide to contact the customer directly or through the relationship manager who handles the customer's account," he said.

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

The trial before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues tomorrow.