Final SRC appeal: It was Jho Low who pumped the funds into Najib’s account, court hears

(The Star) – It was not the Saudi King that pumped RM42mil into former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s personal bank account, it was actually fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, the Federal Court heard.

Lead prosecutor Datuk V. Sithambaram said this in his submissions at the final appeal of Najib in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case here on Friday (Aug 19).

He said the regularisation of Najib’s bank accounts with the RM42mil can be clearly seen that the funds entered his accounts at specific and critical times to magically clear the overdrawn account and restore a positive bank balance.

Najib, in his defence, had said that the RM42mil in his bank account was manipulated and transacted by Low, better known as Jho Low, without his concurrence and knowledge.

The Pekan MP said that he had thought the money was a political donation from the Arab royalties.

“Every time it (bank balance) drops, they (the Saudis) will come and pay.

“The Saudi King was no other than Low. He is the one pumping funds,” he said.

Sithambaram said the trial judge made a finding that the origins of the Arab letters, meant to support the political donation story, was doubtful as no originals were produced in the trial.

“The only reason the appellant (Najib) maintains his belief that the funds were from the Saudi King was because of Jho Low and this cannot be believed for a man befitting the status of the appellant as the prime minister and the finance minister,” he said.

Towards the end of the submissions, Sithambaram told the court that he would begin his second part of the submissions on Tuesday (Aug 23).

At this point, Hisyam Teh Poh Teik stood up and asked if the proceedings could be pushed to Thursday instead.

It was unclear why Najib’s counsel had wanted to postpone the case to Thursday.

The application was denied by the five-member panel chaired by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat.

“As we have stated many times, there will be no adjournment of this appeal, we will proceed as scheduled. (Hisyam) you remain on record (as the counsel),” she said.

The hearing will resume on Tuesday.