KUALA LUMPUR: Former attorney-general (AG) Mohamed Apandi Ali told the High Court in Najib Razak’s SRC International trial today that he was unaware of the nine audio recordings purportedly related to SRC International and 1MDB dealings.
Apandi, who was the AG from July 2015 to May 2018, also said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) never sought his approval as public prosecutor at the time to tap the mobile phones of Najib and several other former government officials.
“I have no knowledge of these audio recordings. I was asked to go to Bukit Aman to give a statement on this,” he said when questioned by Najib’s lawyer, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, about the MACC press conference on Jan 8 at which the anti-graft body disclosed the phone conversations.
Former MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya had released nine audio clips purportedly featuring Najib, his wife Rosmah Mansor, former deputy public prosecutor Dzulkifli Ahmad and crown prince of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohammed Zayed Al Nahyan.
The clips were also said to feature UAE president Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, IPIC chairman Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan and Mubadala Development Company CEO Khaldoon Al-Mubarak.
Najib’s stepson Riza Aziz, Najib’s former special officer Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin and Umno’s Khairul Azwan Harun were also named by MACC. The conversations allegedly took place between Jan 6, 2016 and July 29, 2016.
In the first audio clip supposedly between Dzulkifli and Najib, Dzulkifli was heard sharing investigation details, believed to be on SRC International.
Apandi also told the court today that he ordered the authorities to close the investigation papers into the RM2.6 billion “donation” and RM42 million worth of funds from SRC International said to have gone into Najib’s bank accounts as he was satisfied that the former prime minister had committed no criminal offence.
“As I indicated, I stated that I had studied and read the investigation papers from cover to cover, every page.
“MACC admitted there was no offence committed.”
He added that he had called for the press conference on Jan 26, 2016 to update the public on the latest developments.
At the press conference at the AG’s Chambers, Apandi said he had cleared Najib of any wrongdoing under the MACC Act and Penal Code.
When asked by ad hoc prosecutor V Sithambaram whether he knew that Najib had affirmed an affidavit admitting that the RM42 million allegedly from SRC International had entered his accounts, Apandi said no.
The affidavit was filed as part of a defamation lawsuit against former MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik.
Apandi also said he had no recollection of Dzulkifli suggesting that he close the investigation papers into the RM2.6 billion “donation” and SRC International cases.
Dzulkifli, who later became MACC chief commissioner, was one of six deputy public prosecutors who assisted Apandi in going through the investigation papers.
The hearing continues before High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali tomorrow. Najib’s former principle private secretary, Shukry Mohd Salleh, will testify.
Najib is accused of abusing his power as prime minister by giving government guarantees on SRC International’s RM4 billion loan from Retirement Fund Inc.
He has also been charged with three counts of money laundering and three counts of criminal breach of trust in the transfer of RM42 million to his accounts from the former 1MDB unit.