[UPDATED] 1MDB trial: Najib wrote 38 cheques worth RM8.4 mil from personal account

KUALA LUMPUR – Selangor Umno and the state’s Wanita Umno Movement were among the major recipients of funds from Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s personal account, having received RM2 million and RM1.9 million, respectively, between 2011 and 2012, the high court here heard today.

Ambank senior manager Badrul Hisham Mohamad told the court in Najib’s 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) corruption trial today that 38 cheques were issued by the former prime minister, totalling RM8,405,850, between 2011 and 2012.

Badrul, who is attached to the bank’s cheque processing centre, said all cheques were issued from Najib’s personal AmIslamic Bank account – number 211-202-200969-4 – attached to the bank’s Jalan Raja Chulan branch and had carried his signature.

Badrul also testified that Najib’s signature was recognised based on the bank’s Signature Database System.

Selangor Umno was issued RM2 million in two separate cheques between November 30, 2011 and March 14, 2012.

In September 2011, Najib issued an RM800,000 cheque to the Selangor Wanita Umno Movement and another RM1.1 million in March 2012.

Badrul also testified that other Umno branches had received cheques issued by Najib.

Another RM400,000 was issued to the Machang Umno division on April 13, 2012.

Najib had also issued cheques worth RM300,000 to Pekan Umno and another RM70,000 to the division’s women’s wing for both years.

The Bandar Tun Razak Barisan Nasional chapter had also received funds from Najib, with a single cheque payment of RM200,000 on March 15, 2012.

Private entity KL Media House Sdn Bhd was also among the recipients, getting RM360,000 on April 19, 2012.

Individual recipients

Najib, who is facing charges of misappropriating RM2.28 billion of 1MDB funds, also issued cheques to several individuals in both 2011 and 2012, Badrul told the court.

Among them were former human resource minister and current Serian MP Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem, who was issued an RM100,000 cheque on March 1, 2012.

Former lands and cooperatives development minister Tan Sri Kasitah Gaddam was also issued RM100,000 on February 2, 2012.

Former Perkasa information chief, the late Datuk Ruslan Kassim, was also issued a cheque on June 28, 2011.

In this trial Najib, 68, is facing four charges, involving using his position to obtain bribes amounting to RM2.28 billion from 1MDB funds, and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.

The hearing continues before judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah tomorrow.

For the record, the cheques were issued before 2013, when the 13th general election was held on May 5 – the first national polls Najib had faced since becoming prime minister in 2009. – The Vibes, September 7, 2022