KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 7): After not being impeached by the High Court, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will continue to be cross-examined by the prosecution led by appointed prosecutor Datuk V Sithambaram with Attorney General Tommy Thomas observing from the background.
Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali in dismissing the impeachment after scrutinizing Najib's statement given with the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission and his conflicting testimony ruled that in the court's view that the former premier was trying to explain his earlier answers to the MACC.
"As such I find that there are no material contradictions or serious discrepancies between the two statements as highlighted vis-à-vis the four exhibits. There is therefore no justification to pursue the impeachment process against the accused in respect of this specific application by the prosecution," the judge ruled.
In continuing his cross-examination, the Pekan MP repeatedly said that he was misled by the signatures, which he said resembled his own, on several SRC International Sdn Bhd documents, that led him to admit that he did sign off on several documents when asked by the MACC when his statement was recorded.
These documents were minutes of meetings and directors’ circular resolutions (DCR) relating to the request for an additional RM2 billion loan from Retirement Fund Inc (KWAP) to SRC and also 1Malaysia Development Bhd minutes.
As Sithambaram pressured Najib that he had told the MACC that he read the content of the documents.
“Yes but it was only in passing. It was towards the end of the interview,” said Najib.
The former premier explained further that he had assumed he saw the documents because the signature appeared as though he had signed it.
The Edge is reporting the proceedings of the SRC trial live.