KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 13): Former foreign affairs minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman is expected to appear as the sixth defence witness in ex-prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's SRC International Sdn Bhd trial here today.
Based on testimonies from the previous two witnesses former minister in the prime minister's department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom and ex-Malaysian ambassador to Saudi Arabia Professor Datuk Syed Omar Alsagoff, Anifah was present during Najib's first meeting with the late King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia in January 2010.
On Tuesday, Jamil Khir testified that Najib was the one who requested donations from King Abdullah during the informal meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Responding to questions from prosecutor Datuk V Sithambaram, Jamil Khir told the court that one of the points of discussion during the meeting was Najib seeking financial aid from the king.
Prior to Jamil Khir's testimony, Najib said Low Taek Jho (Jho Low) was the conduit between the former prime minister and the Saudi royal family.
Najib said that was why he had no communications with the Saudi royal family about their "donation" to him.
Jamil Khir also said he had never known of Jho Low's involvement in the request and that it was a direct discussion between the late king and Najib.
Meanwhile, document expert Dr Steven Strach, who was appointed by the defence, has been examining the disputed exhibits, which include meeting minutes and bank transfer instruction letters containing Najib's signatures.
It is likely that Strach has completed his examination of the documents, based on the previous indication that he will only be allowed two days to examine the exhibits.
The defence also told the court that the expert's report will be ready by Feb 26.
Najib is facing seven charges of misappropriating RM42 million in SRC, a former subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Bhd.
He faces up to 20 years of imprisonment if convicted of the offences.
The Edge is reporting the proceedings of the SRC trial live.