Najib didn't dispute veracity of signature during MACC grilling, court hears

NAJIB TRIAL | The Kuala Lumpur High Court today established that former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak did not dispute the authenticity of his signature on several documents shown to him when he was investigated by the MACC.

These documents included Finance Ministry minutes on 1MDB and SRC International Sdn Bhd.

Under cross-examination today at his trial for the alleged misappropriation of funds from SRC International Sdn Bhd, Najib said although he had "doubts" about whether he signed the documents, he did not express it in his witness statement that was recorded by the MACC.

Deputy public prosecutor V Sithambaram spent a significant portion of the morning's proceedings pointing Najib to the statement he had given the MACC, in which the accused confirmed the authenticity of the documents in question.

Sithambaram: Can you confirm that when your statement was taken by the MACC, you confirmed (the authenticity of the document) because you saw the signature and because you saw the content.

Najib: Not so much on the content, but because the signature looked like mine.

Sithambaram: In your witness statement, you stated you have looked at the content as well.

Najib: My lord, I have to check on that.

Najib's defence team had previously applied to have an Australian expert inspect several documents to verify if the former prime minister's signature on several key exhibits were authentic.

During the proceedings this morning, what was not in dispute was Najib's signature on several documents appointing Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil as his agent for three bank accounts which are the subject of the ongoing trial.

The three bank accounts were allegedly used to receive funds which originated from SRC International.

To many of Sithambaram's questions, Najib would repeatedly state that Nik Faisal was in control of the bank accounts.

Sithambaram: Are you personally responsible for your bank accounts?

Najib: In practice, I delegated the management of my personal and private accounts.

Sithambaram: Are you personally responsible for your banking transactions?

Najib: I have delegated.

Sithambaram: Are you responsible?

Najib: In practice, I delegated.

Sithambaram: Are you personally responsible still?

Najib: If something went wrong, how could I be responsible?

Sithambaram: You are personally responsible, no matter what others do.

Najib: I cannot be responsible if something went wrong.

Sithambaram: You are not responsible for anything.

Najib: If someone does something not right, I cannot be responsible. There are things they did that I am not aware of.