Najib Doubts His Signatures

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Making his way: Najib and his legal team at The Kuala Lumpur court for SRC International Sdn Bhd trial
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak only realised that “fraud” involving his signature had been committed after the SRC International Sdn Bhd case went on trial in court, the High Court heard.

The former prime minister said he had his suspicions on the authenticity of his signature as the trial – which has entered its 66th day – went on.

Najib was pressed by lead prosecutor Datuk V. Sithambaram about the discrepancy in his statement to the court and to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) regarding his signature on several documents during a cross-examination here yesterday.

The signatures were on three SRC International documents relating to the loan application from SRC to the Retirement Fund Inc (KWAP).

Najib, 67, had earlier testified he was not sure the signatures were his but confirmed them when the MACC recorded his statement during its investigation into the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal.

Sithambaram: Can you explain why you could not confirm the authenticity of the documents now?

Najib: I vaguely remember (the reason I confirmed it then) but I was basing it on my signature. I signed many documents in a day. You know, running the country, you have 1,001 things. This happened so long ago.

“When the case got into court, only then did I know there is ‘penipuan’ (fraud),” he said.

Sithambaram replied that Najib could not simply say he did not sign the documents “in retrospect”.

Najib insisted that he made the confirmation before as he based it on the signature, which looked like his, and he was not shown the original document.

“I was not aware there were scams going on. This was only raised in court.

“Now I have doubts about the signatures,” he said, adding that he was “misled” by the signature.

Sithambaram: I put it to you; you were not misled by the signature. You are misleading the court.

Najib: No, no.

Earlier, the prosecution had tried to move for impeachment proceedings against Najib because of the discrepancy in Najib’s statements regarding the signature.

Sithambaram made the application to initiate impeachment proceedings under Section 145 and 155 of the Evidence Act.

The application was objected by Najib’s lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah and Harvinderjit Singh on grounds that their client had already explained about the difference in his statements.

Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali later ruled that the alleged contradictions were reconcilable, as Najib had given his explanation on the alleged discrepancy.

“I find no material contradiction in the statements,” Justice Nazlan said.

Najib is testifying in the defence trial of the SRC International where he is accused of seven charges involving the misappropriation of RM42mil from SRC’s coffers.

The hearing continues today. - Star

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