Najib Razak’s lawyer told the High Court he thanked King Abdullah in person for the US$681 million donation, avoiding written correspondence over security concerns.
PUTRAJAYA: The High Court heard that former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak conveyed his gratitude to the late Saudi ruler King Abdullah privately rather than through formal correspondence regarding alleged US$681 million donations.
Najib’s lawyer Datuk Tania Scivetti argued her client avoided sending a thank-you note due to concerns such correspondence might fall into the wrong hands.
She explained any formal letter would have needed to pass through official diplomatic channels, posing risks to the sensitive nature of the alleged donation.
“Datuk Seri Najib subsequently conveyed his gratitude to King Abdullah in person,” Scivetti submitted to the court.
The former prime minister testified in January that official protocols prevented him from formally thanking the late Saudi ruler for the purported financial assistance.
Today marked the sixth day of defence submissions before Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah in Najib’s RM2.3 billion 1MDB case.
Najib faces 25 charges involving RM2.3 billion of 1MDB funds, with the defence concluding its case on May 6 after calling 26 witnesses.
The 72-year-old former prime minister faces four charges of using his position to obtain RM2.3 billion in 1MDB funds as gratification between February 2011 and December 2014.
He also faces 21 counts of money laundering allegedly committed between March and August 2013.
Najib is currently serving his sentence in Kajang Prison for the misappropriation of RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd.
The hearing continues tomorrow. – Bernama
