Najib Src Trial Former Minister Jamil Khir Released From The Witness Stand

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The criminal trial of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak involving the alleged misappropriation of funds from SRC International Sdn Bhd enters day 78 today at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur
Malaysiakini brings you live reports of the proceedings

Summary of Najib’s SRC RM42 million caseNajib is facing 7 charges relating to RM42m involving SRC International, a former 1MDB subsidiary
1 abuse of power charge3 criminal breach of trust (CBT) charges3 money laundering chargesClick to view information on judge, prosecution and defence teamKEY HIGHLIGHTSFormer minister Jamil Khir released from the witness standJamil Khir agrees that Arab donation was hushed up, kept from publicEx-minister tells the court that Najib asked Saudi Arabia for a donationJamil Khir denies that Saudi ruler only promised non-monetary supportKing Abdullah didn't state the amount of donation - ex-ministerEx-minister, prosecution spar over Saudi ruler's donationNormal for late Saudi king to bestow lavish gifts, says ex-ministerEx-minister: I heard late Saudi king promising financial aid to NajibDirect transfer of Saudi money was to avoid 'complications' - witnessEx-minister Jamil Khir Baharom begins testifying as fifth defence witnessThank you for following Malaysiakini's live report1.30pm - Thank you for following our live report today
Proceedings adjourn until Thursday12.15pm - Proceedings adjourned to Thursday as counsel Shafee Abdullah told the court that the sixth defence witness, Anifah Aman would not be ready to testify tomorrow
Former minister Jamil Khir released from the witness stand12.10pm - Former minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom is released from the witness stand
This follows after a brief re-examination by lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah
Jamil Khir agrees that Arab donation was hushed up, kept from public12.07pm - Former minister in the prime minister's department Jamil Khir Baharom agrees that the alleged Arab donation to then premier Najib Abdul Razak was hushed up and kept from the public
The fifth defence witness says this during cross-examination by DPP V Sithambaram
Jamil Khir also disagrees with Sithambaram's assertion that if King Abdullah had indeed promised to give this donation to Najib in Jan 2010, then it amounted to interference by Saudi Arabia in Malaysia's democratic election
Sithambaram: But this (alleged donation to Najib) was hushed up and kept from the public
Jamil Khir: Agree
Ex-minister tells the court that Najib asked Saudi Arabia for a donation11.57am - Former minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom tells the court that it was the government through then premier Najib Abdul Razak who asked Saudi Arabia for a fund contribution
When questioned by DPP V Sithambaram whether Malaysia through the then prime minister had sought a donation from Saudi or was it Saudi which offered it, Jamil says: "We know it as a request."He adds that to his knowledge the financial request was never discussed in the cabinet
"As far as I'm concerned, none," he says
King Abdullah didn't state the amount of donation - ex-minister11.50am - Former minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom testifies that King Abdullah Abdulaziz Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia did not state during the 2010 meeting the amount of money that he would be donating to the then PM Najib Abdul Razak
The king also did not say who would send the donation to Najib, he says when asked by deputy public prosecutor V Sithambaram
Ex-minister, prosecution spar over Saudi ruler's donation11.46am - Former minister in the prime minister's department Jamil Khir Baharom and DPP V Sithambaram engages in verbal sparring over the truthfulness of an alleged promise of donation by then Saudi Ruler King Abdullah Abdulaziz Al-Saud to then premier Najib Abdul Razak on Jan 11, 2010
During cross-examination, Sithambaram asserts that there was no truth that there was such a promise given on Jan 11, 2010, while Jamil Khir counters that King Abdullah did give the promise to Najib
Sithambaram: I say that your testimony that there was such a discussion (between King Abdullah and Najib over the donation) on Jan 11, 2010, in relation to the 13th General Election is not true
Jamil Khir: Disagree
Sithambaram: I say that King Abdullah (allegedly) stating that the donation would be sent (to Najib) soon (after the informal Jan 11, 2010, meeting between Najib-led Malaysian delegation and King Abdullah at Riyadh) is not true
Jamil Khir: Disagree
Jamil Khir also disagrees with Sithambaram's assertion that he had given false testimony over King Abdullah allegedly having promised to transfer the donation into Najib's private account
Jamil Khir denies that Saudi ruler only promised non-monetary support11.43am - Former minister in the prime minister's department Jamil Khir Baharom disagrees with the prosecution's assertion that the late Saudi Ruler King Abdullah only promised non-monetary support to then premier Najib Abdul Razak
The fifth prosecution witness says this during cross-examination by DPP V Sithambaram
Sithambaram: I say that the meeting on Jan 11, 2010, (between Najib and King Abdullah in Riyadh) only had King Abdullah personally give assurance to Datuk Seri (Najib) that His Majesty (King Abdullah) would only give support so that Datuk Seri can continue to administer this country (Malaysia) as a good example of a (moderate) Islamic country
Jamil Khir: King Abdullah gave support including financial (support)
Sithambaram: There was never any time on Jan 11, 2010, that King Abdullah gave support via financial donation
Jamil Khir: King Abdullah's assurance was financial that day
Sithambaram: I suggest that is not true
Jamil Khir: I disagree
11.35am - Proceedings resume after an hour break, with the prosecution expected to cross-examine fifth defence witness, former minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom
Proceedings adjourn for a short break10.30am - High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali allows proceedings to adjourn for an hour until 11.30am
This is to allow the prosecution to go through the amended copy of fifth defence witness Jamil Khir Baharom, who was also a former minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of Islamic affairs
Earlier, DPP V Sithambaram informed the court that they were only served with an amended copy of Jamil Khir's witness statement this morning
Normal for late Saudi king to bestow lavish gifts, says ex-minister10.25am - Former minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom (below) testifies that it's a norm for King Abdullah to offer gifts beyond one's expectation
"I was also gifted with a pen containing a diamond. Usually (this kind of gift) is a mark of respect. To him (the king), this is normal
"If he gives a Rolex watch, it's hard to find a similar watch in the market," he says during examination-in-chief by lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah
Ex-minister: I heard late Saudi king promising financial aid to Najib10.17am - Former minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom testifies that he was right behind then Saudi ruler King Abdullah Abdulaziz Al-Saud and former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak when the monarch promised to transfer financial aid into the then premier's personal account
During examination-in-chief by lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah (below), the fifth defence witness says that he could hear every word of discussion between King Abdullah and Najib, the words translated into Arab and English by their respective interpreters
Jamil Khir testifies he was part of the Najib-led Malaysian delegation that took part in an informal meeting with King Abdullah at Riyadh on Jan 11, 2010
He says that the promise of financial aid to Najib was made as he, Najib and King Abdullah were walking away after the informal meeting was concluded
Shafee: Can you hear every discussion between King Abdullah and Najib? Can you hear everything
Jamil Khir: While moving away (from the informal meeting), I was right behind Najib at the time. (My) Position was the same as King Abdullah's interpreter, and I was behind Najib. We could hear what was communicated by King Abdullah and Najib's response
Jamil Khir adds that he could understand Arab language due to his educational background in Islamic religious studies and the Arab language
Ex-minister Jamil Khir finishes reading witness statement10.05am - Former minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom has wrapped up reading his nine-page witness statement
Direct transfer of Saudi money was to avoid 'complications' - witness9.59am - Then Saudi ruler King Abdullah Abdulaziz Al-Saud (below) chose to transfer financial aid into then premier Najib Abdul Razak's account in order to avoid complications of how political organisations spend the money, a former minister testifies
Former minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom says this while reading out from a prepared witness statement during examination-in-chief by lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah
The fifth defence witness testifies that King Abdullah promised this to Najib just after they had an informal meeting at Riyadh on Jan 11, 2010
"I was made to understand that the funds were transferred into the personal account of Najib Razak to streamline the political journey of Najib Razak and that King Abdullah was also concerned that direct transfer into any political organisation entities would complicate way the funds are spent," Jamil Khir says
Jamil Khir says he was part of the Malaysian delegation with Najib who attended the informal meeting on Jan 11, 2010
Ex-minister Jamil Khir Baharom begins testifying as fifth defence witness9.49am - Former minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom begins reading out from his witness statement as the fifth defence witness
9.42am - Former minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom enters the witness stand and takes his oath before giving his testimony in the defence stage of Najib Abdul Razak's RM42 million SRC International trial
Proceedings begin9.38am - Najib Abdul Razak enters the dock as proceedings begin
9am - Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak enters the Kuala Lumpur High Court and takes a seat at the front row of the public gallery
Also in court awaiting proceedings to begin are DPP V Sithambaram and other DPPs, as well as members of the accused's defence team
Former minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Jamil Khir Baharom is set to testify as the fifth defence witness on the 78th day of Najib Abdul Razak’s RM42 million SRC International trial today
The accused former prime minister’s lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah informed the Kuala Lumpur High Court of this at the end of proceedings yesterday, which ended just after midday
Yesterday during examination-in-chief by Shafee, fourth defence witness Syed Omar Syed Mohammad Al Saggaf, who was former Malaysian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, testified that he was made to understand that then Saudi ruler King Abdullah promised financial aid to then premier Najib for the 13th general election (GE13) in Malaysia
Syed Omar testified that this understanding was given to him just after an unofficial meeting at Riyadh on Jan 10, 2010, between a Malaysian delegation led by Najib and King Abdullah
However, while under cross-examination by DPP V Sithambaram yesterday, Syed Omar admitted that it was Najib who informed him (Syed Omar) about King Abdullah’s offer of financial aid for GE13 in Malaysia
In previous proceedings, Najib’s defence had relied on the notion that the accused utilised the RM42 million that was transferred into his bank accounts between December 2014 and February 2015, because the money was part of a donation from the Saudi royal family, among others
Proceedings before Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali are expected to resume around 9am this morning. - Mkini

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