The Malaysian Insight

A WITNESS in Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) trial told the Kuala Lumpur High Court that she did not know the “accuracy and authenticity” of her witness statement.

Former Finance Ministry (MOF) deputy secretary-general Siti Zauyah Mohd Desa made this admission when she was questioned by lead counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, who had asked who prepared her witness statement.

“Did you draft this witness statement yourself?

“In truth you don’t know whether the details in your statement are true, accurate or to your personal knowledge?” Shafee asked the prosecution witness.

To this, Siti Zauyah said she was not privy to what was written in her witness statement.

“No, someone in the Finance Ministry drafted it,” the witness replied.

“The officers handling the loans in MOF drafted it, but I don’t know who (else) from MOF Inc was involved.”

Siti Zauyah, 63, said she also did not read the prepared statement in detail and had merely signed it.

“I was only given at the last minute. I didn’t have the privilege of reading everything. It was drafted but not in my presence. I was just given the document.”

While on the stand, Siti Zauyah has been unable to answer most of Shafee’s questions, often responding with “I don’t know”.

Shafee had earlier tried to confer with the prosecution to try and remove her as a witness.

“She has a wonderful textbook statement, but now she says she doesn’t know anything,” Shafee told judge Colin Lawrence Sequerah, while reminding Siti Zauyah that she was under oath.

“They (prosecution) should withdraw this witness. She is not useful to the prosecution, we are going anywhere. This is the first time in 46 years that I have encountered such a witness,” he added.

Siti Zauyah is the 26th prosecution witness in Najib’s 1MDB trial.

She had previously testified that Najib held all the power in 1MDB based on the company’s memorandum and articles of association.

She said article 117 of 1MDB constitution gave the then prime minister power to approve the appointments of directors, the senior management team as well as matters relating to financial commitments was added without consulting MoF Inc.

Siti Zauyah said that article 117 also gave Najib power over any financial commitment (including investments), which was likely to affect government guarantees.

She also testified that the current government was still paying the US$3 billion (RM13.4 billion) loan that was given to state-owned 1MDB.

The loan was sanctioned by the then government after Najib, who was the finance minister, signed off the letter of support in 2013.

Najib is facing 25 charges in relation to 1MDB.

Four of them are abuse of power under section 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Act 2009 for offences allegedly committed between February 24, 2011, and December 19, 2014.

The remaining 21 are for money-laundering under section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001. The money-laundering charges involve nine counts of receiving RM2.08 billion, seven counts of transferring RM2.19 billion and five counts of using RM22.65 million.

This case is the first to continue following Najib’s failure in appealing his SRC International case conviction at Federal Court on Tuesday. He was brought to the court this morning from the Kajang Prison. – August 25, 2022.