KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, the former Malaysian prime minister, testified before the High Court that he believed the substantial funds deposited into his personal AmIslamic bank account were donations from Saudi Arabia’s late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Najib defended the legitimacy of these monies, emphasizing the monarch’s supreme authority in Saudi Arabia as the basis for his understanding.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Najib explained that the Saudi system, where the king holds ultimate power, led him to reasonably conclude that King Abdullah had instructed the Riyadh Ministry of Finance to release the funds as a donation. He further stated that disbursements from the Riyadh Ministry of Finance were reflective of the king’s intentions. Najib disclosed receiving RM311,122,245.94 from Prince Faisal and Prince Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, asserting that it was plausible King Abdullah directed these funds through his relatives.

Currently, Najib is defending himself against charges
related to the misappropriation of RM2.3 billion in 1MDB funds and multiple counts of money laundering. During cross-examination by his counsel, Wan Azwan Aiman Wan Fakhruddin, Najib elaborated on Saudi Arabia’s governance structure, contrasting it with Malaysia’s, and reiterated his belief in the legitimacy of the funds due to their royal origins.

Najib also addressed allegations under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, clarifying that RM20 million from the received funds were allocated to UMNO for its operations and community initiatives, not for personal use. He highlighted the role of these funds in supporting CSR programs, such as flood relief in Kelantan in 2013, aligning with assurances from King Abdullah on the intended use of the donations.

The trial, overseen by Justice Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, continues as Najib faces all 25 charges, with the court having previously determined a prima facie case against him. The proceedings are set to resume tomorrow.