Denies orchestrating cover-ups in Najib’s RM2.6b donation, SRC cases.
Ex-AG’s testified that:
- he was satisfied no criminal offence was committed by Najib
- Najib had no knowledge that money in his account was from anywhere else than Saudi donation
- he never gave any instructions on any cover-ups
Former attorney-general Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali today defended his public statements from January 2016 that cleared Datuk Seri Najib Razak of any wrongdoing over a RM2.6 billion donation and SRC International Sdn Bhd.
Testifying as the 13th defence witness in Najib’s RM42 million SRC corruption trial at the High Court today, Apandi explained that he issued a media statement on January 18, 2016, to satisfy the “public’s curiosity” on the outcome of the ongoing investigations.
“At that material time, the investigations involved the then sitting PM, so the public wanting to know…desiring to know the development and outcome (of the probe).
“Because the investigation was long pending and to satisfy (them), I then issued this press release to show investigation is ongoing…to show development,” he said during examination-in-chief by Najib’s lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.
In a press conference on January 26, 2016, Apandi announced he was satisfied that no criminal offence has been committed by Najib based on the facts and evidence as can be found in the Investigation Paper (IP) at the material time.
Shafee then asked Apandi whether the evidence included the four ‘donation’ letters purportedly signed by Prince Saud Abdulaziz Al-Saud addressed to Najib and subsequent statements recorded by MACC in relation to the letters.
Shafee: Did you direct for statements to be recorded in relation to these four letters?
Apandi: Yes, I did.
Shafee: Did you have occasion to see the result in relation to the statements?
Apandi: Yes.
He was then asked whether he had looked into the statements recorded from Eric Tan Kim Loong and Mohamad Abdullah Al-Koman on behalf of ‘Prince Saud’.
Apandi: As I indicated in the press release, I stated that I studied the Investigations Papers (IP). When I said that I meant I read cover to cover, every page of the IP.
Apandi also told the court he was satisfied that Najib has indicated whatever funds issued or used were donations.
Shafee: Did u address the issue in the SRC case where the PM has no knowledge that the money came from elsewhere?
Apandi: I made the conclusion that he has no knowledge. Whatever money that flows in his account is from the RM2.6 billion donation.
Apandi also testified that Najib did not know RM42 million was from SRC.
“It was my understanding that he did not know about the RM42 million in his account. That was why I did not charge him,” Apandi said.
“I was satisfied that the money was from the Saudi royal family, after looking at all the facts and documents,” he said.
“I found no evidence to show that the prime minister (Najib) had committed any offence or carried out any corrupt practices. MACC also admitted that there was no evidence to show that the prime minister had committed any acts of (corruption).”
When prompted by Shafee on whether anyone had proposed to him that he covered up any criminal activities, Apandi replied: “The answer is no. I never gave any instructions on any cover ups.”
MACC audio tape recordings
Apandi also vehemently denied he had knowledge of the nine purported audio recordings related to SRC and 1MDB dealings that were made public in January this year.
Apandi said the MACC did not sought for his approval as required under the law to tap into the communication devices of Najib and several former government officials.
Shafee: Throughout your tenure as AG, has MACC ever come to you to ask about interception?
Apandi: The answer is no. I never had any knowledge of all these so-called audio recordings.
He also confirmed he was asked to provide his statement to Bukit Aman on the matter.