Datuk Seri Najib Razak had spent RM80,000 which he received from Saudi royalty on supplements and vitamins for leukaemia prevention five years ago, the High Court heard.
Assistant Director of the Anti-Money Laundering Criminal Investigation Division ACP Foo Wei Min said this under cross-examination by Najib’s lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.
Shafee, at the outset of the proceedings today pointed out the RM80,000 payment from Najib’s bank account ending with 694 to Vital Spire Sdn Bhd.
The senior lawyer read out excerpts from Najib’s statement which stated that he took the supplements for his general health and as a preventive measure after his father, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, the second prime minister, passed away of leukaemia.
In the statement, the former prime minister said he had “this fear as a prime minister and if he had a similar situation like Tun Razak, he would not be able to carry on with the administration of the country, so he wanted to prevent this (leukaemia)”.
Muhammad Shafee: Do you recall, Najib told you the total cost for that medicine was about RM1 million or less and that he could have taken this treatment from the government, but he did not want to burden the government, so he took it from money that he thought were donations. Do you remember?
Foo: I think he did mention that.
The 48th prosecution witness also verified various transactions involving Najib’s account such as RM9 million payment to Zeal Hi-Tech Solutions Sdn Bhd for goodie bags and souvenirs for Umno members, RM9 million to textile retailer Jakel Trading for a charity programme in Pekan, Pahang as well as several payments to political parties.
Shafee later suggested that his client was not a kleptocrat as he did not use the money for personal gain, which the witness said he was not in a position to comment on.
Najib, 70, is facing four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3 billion from 1Malaysia Development Berhad funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.
Hearing before presiding judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues. – NST