Arul Not Prevented From Attending Pac Hearing On Audit Report Witness

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1MDB AUDIT TRIAL | Former 1MDB CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy was never prevented from attending the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearing on the special audit of the troubled sovereign wealth fund, the Kuala Lumpur High Court heard today.
Former National Audit Department (NAD) officer Saadatul Nafisah Ahmad Bashir testified this during the trial of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak and Arul Kanda over the alleged amendment to the 1MDB audit report prior to it being tabled with PAC in early 2016.
During re-examination by deputy public prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram, seventh prosecution witness Saadatul explained that neither the NAD nor anybody else had prevented Arul Kanda from explaining to the PAC regarding any issues in the audit.
In previous proceedings before judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan, Arul Kanda’s defence team had contended that the former 1MDB CEO was not given sufficient opportunity by NAD to explain issues linked to the audit of the sovereign wealth fund.
Sri Ram: The first accused Arul Kanda was not given an opportunity to answer (issues raised in audit). Is that true?
Saadatul: No.
Sri Ram: To your knowledge, did you or anybody else prevent Arul Kanda from attending the PAC meeting (in 2016) to offer an explanation?
Saadatul: No.
Sri Ram: You did nothing to prevent it?
Saadatul: No.
Sri Ram: According to you, if PAC wanted clarification, they would have called (Arul Kanda)?
Saadatul: Yes.





Saadatul Nafisah Ahmad Bashir
The witness also agreed with Sri Ram that Arul Kanda had already been with 1MDB for a year, prior to the PAC in March 2016.
The trial before Zaini will resume on Nov 29.
Final audit report
Najib is charged with using his position to order amendments to 1MDB's final audit report before it was presented to the PAC in order to prevent any action against him.
Co-accused Arul Kanda was charged with abetting Najib in making the amendments.
The charges are framed under Section 23 (1) of the MACC Act 2009, which specify a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of no less than five times the amount of gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
The prosecution is contending that a decision to make the amendments was made during a meeting on Feb 24, 2016, at the office of then chief secretary to the government Ali Hamsa.
It was alleged this was done to remove or alter certain portions of the 1MDB audit report, including dropping the issue of wanted fugitive Low Taek Jho’s (Jho Low) attendance at the fund’s board meetings.
Besides Ali and Arul Kanda, others who were present at the meeting were former auditor-general Ambrin Buang, Saadatul, Najib’s former chief private secretary Shukry Salleh, and then Attorney-General’s Chambers representative Dzulkifli Ahmad. - Mkini

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