Najib Trial Day 58 Src Never Reported Alleged Signature Forgeries Says Macc Officer

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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 its 58th day 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 HIGHLIGHTSSRC never reported alleged signature forgeries, says MACC officerRosli rejects defence's suggestion his testimony 'not entirely truthful'Witness testifies there was draft charge sheet against Najib in 2015Investigation papers in 2015 recommended charges against Nik FaisalNo other MACC prosecutors went through SRC investigating papers - RosliRosli Hussain disagrees with Apandi Ali's 2016 statement clearing NajibKevin Morais not involved in SRC caseDefence attempts to enter media statements as exhibitsProceedings beginSRC never reported alleged signature forgeries, says MACC officer11.12am - The hearing resumes with the re-examination of MACC IO Rosli Hussain by DPP Suhaimi Ibrahim
Rosli tells the court that throughout his investigations, SRC never filed any complaint about alleged false signatures belonging to the company's former director Suboh Md Yassin or its former CEO Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil
“I did not receive complaints from any party with regard to allegations that the signatures were forged...so I did not (see a need) to refer the signatures to a handwriting expert,” says Rosli
Suhaimi points out that the issue of the pair's signatures being forged had previously been raised during cross-examination. However, Rosli says no formal complaint had been lodged over signature forgeries by SRC or its subsidiary Gandingan Mentari
Proceedings resume11.07am - Proceedings resume for the re-examination of Rosli Hussain by the prosecution
The prosecution seeks to close their case today
Rosli rejects defence's suggestion his testimony 'not entirely truthful'10.22am - Rosli Hussain disagrees with lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah’s final suggestion that there have been parts of his testimony in which he is being "not entirely truthful"
“Absolutely not,” says Rosli, before the hearing breaks for 30 minutes to allow the prosecution to prepare for re-examination
Earlier, Shafee (photo) wrapped up his cross-examination with a series of suggestions linked to businessperson Low Taek
This included a suggestion that Low went to great lengths to make sure Najib’s credit card and bank statements were not sent to him to which Rosli responds that he is unsure
Shafee: Do you agree it is impossible that Najib himself would tell the bank, “don't let me know” (about the status of his accounts)
Rosli: I disagree
Shafee: Jho Low has ensured that all checks issued from Najib’s account will not bounce. Correct
Rosli: I am not sureShafee further suggests that Najjb personally checked, or instructed his office to check, if any cheques bounced. Rosli agrees because he would have done the same thing
Rosli also says he doesn't know whether Low has gone through great lengths to ensure Najib did not discover the real status of his accounts
Witness testifies there was draft charge sheet against Najib in 201510.14am - MACC IO Rosli Hussain agrees that there was a draft charge sheet against then prime minister Najib Abdul Razak in 2015
The 57th witness says this while under cross-examination from lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah
Shafee: Was there ever a draft charge sheet made against Najib (in 2015)
Rosli: There had been
Shafee: To the extent that Sarawak Report and even the then AG Gani Patail said (something similar)
Rosli: That I do not know
When Shafee probed further, Rosli says it is normal to draft charge sheets based on findings from MACC probes
Investigation papers in 2015 recommended charges against Nik Faisal10.05am - Rosli Hussain testifies during cross-examination that the 2015 investigation paper into the SRC case had recommended charges against SRC International CEO Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil and several other personalities linked to the case
He says that besides Nik Faisal, the other people the investigation papers recommended to be charged are Ihsan Perdana managing director Shamsul Anwar Sulaiman, Ihsan Perdana finance director Abdul Aziz Ismail and SRC International director Suboh Md Yassin
Shafee: These recommendations are for the (alleged) offence relating to the transfer of RM27 million, RM5 million and RM10 million (into Najib's accounts between Dec 2014 and Feb 2015)
Rosli: Yes
No other MACC prosecutors went through SRC investigating papers - Rosli10am - MACC investigating officer Rosli Hussain disagrees with Shafee's suggestion that the investigation paper on SRC submitted to Apandi on Dec 31, 2015, had first gone through several MACC prosecutors
Rosli also says he is unaware whether other prosecutors in the attorney-general's chambers had gone through the investigation papers because it was submitted directly to Apandi
Shafee: I put it to you that your statement is inaccurate because the investigation papers had gone through several DPPs
Rosli: In MACC, no (it did not)...in the attorney-general's chambers I don't knowShafee earlier suggests that Rosli's statement is inaccurate as it goes against convention and he (Shafee) had personally interviewed one of the DPPs from the attorney-general's chambers
Rosli Hussain disagrees with Apandi Ali's 2016 statement clearing Najib9.45am - MACC investigating officer Rosli Hussain testifies during cross-examination by lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah that he disagrees with then attorney-general Apandi Ali's (photo) Jan 26, 2016, media statement that there is no evidence to show Najib Abdul Razak gave the approval to transfer money from SRC International to his personal accounts
Shafee is referring to Apandi's controversial media statement on Jan 26, 2016, which cleared Najib of wrongdoing in the RM2.6 billion donation issue as well as money transfers involving SRC International
When Shafee asks whether Apandi's decision was final, Rosli, who was the investigating officer in the SRC case then, says even though Apandi made the decision, the MACC can appeal
Kevin Morais not involved in SRC caseRosli Hussain testifies that deceased DPP Kevin Morais is not involved in the SRC International investigation in 2015
The 57th witness says this during cross-examination by Muhammad Shafee Abdullah
Shafee: Was Kevin Morais involved in SRC (probe)
Rosli: No
Shafee: 1MDB (probe)
Rosli: No
Defence attempts to enter media statements as exhibits9.30am - DPP V Sithambaram objects Shafee’s attempt to tender as exhibits, two media statements by the attorney-general Apandi Ali, issued on Jan 18 and Jan 26, 2016
Sithambaram says while Shafee can refer to the statements in his questioning, to mark the documents is objectionable because the maker of the statements is not in court and therefore, it is hearsay
Shafee agrees to proceed with his questions but points out the defence was previously told to rely on media reports when it had raised a similar issue on a letter of authority. Proceedings begin9.17am - Proceedings begin
8.58am - Najib Abdul Razak enters the court and takes a seat at the front row of the public gallery and waits for proceedings to begin
Also seen in court are Attorney-General Tommy Thomas and prosecutors, as well as the former prime minister's lead counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah and other members of the defence team
The prosecution aims to close the RM42 million SRC International case against Najib Abdul Razak today, the trial's 58th day
With the former prime minister’s lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah reaching the end of his cross-examination of MACC investigating officer Rosli Hussain, this would allow the prosecution to conduct a re-examination of the 57th and final witness
However, today’s proceedings, which is set to begin before Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali at 9am this morning, may only be a half-day affair as the judge have other criminal cases to preside over in the afternoon
With Najib’s RM2.28 billion 1MDB trial before Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah set to begin tomorrow and run until Thursday this week, parties in the SRC International trial will be looking to wrap up Rosli’s testimony quickly
- Mkini

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