Najib Says He Returned US$620mil to Donor with Bank Negara’s Approval

KUALA LUMPUR: Najib Razak told the High Court that he had returned US$620mil in unutilised donation funds to the original source with the approval of Bank Negara Malaysia.

Najib, who is facing multiple charges linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), said the money had been used mainly for political and welfare activities. He stressed that he held no offshore accounts and was transparent in seeking the central bank’s permission before returning the funds.

Najib returns money to donor

“I would probably be the only alleged ‘corrupt politician’ who returns the so-called gratification,” Najib said during oral submissions before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah.

He argued that other former 1MDB officials, including ex-CEOs Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi and Mohd Hazem Abdul Rahman, and former counsel Jasmine Loo Ai Swan, had been involved in questionable transactions yet were treated as credible witnesses.

Najib said he was not asking for immunity but for equal treatment before the law. His lawyer, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, informed the Court that the defence had filed seven volumes of written submissions to be presented over nine days.

Najib remains imprisoned for a separate SRC International case involving RM42mil.

Business News