KUALA LUMPUR - The corruption trial against former premier Najib Razak, who allegedly misappropriated RM42 million from a unit of state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), is on the tail end of the prosecution's case, with the defence expected to wrap up its cross-examination of the last prosecution witness early next week.
The trial will then move on to the much-anticipated hearing of Najib's alleged connection with the misappropriation funds from 1MDB.
On Friday (Aug 23), the court heard from the 57th prosecution witness, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission investigating officer Rosli Hussain, that RM3.3 million was charged to Najib's credit card at a Swiss jewellery outlet in Italy on Aug 14, 2014. But Mr Rosli said it was a "mere claim" when asked by the defence if the gift was for the wife of former Qatar premier Hamad Jassim Jaber al-Thani, a country with which Malaysia had close relations.''
Defence counsel Farhan Read then produced a letter dated Aug 15, 2014, purportedly addressed to Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor, from Noor Abdulaziz Abdulla Turki Al-Subaie, the sheik's wife, to express her appreciation for the gift.
In response, Mr Rosli said: "Rosmah had never mentioned to me this letter."
Yesterday's hearing was the 57th day of the trial concerning SRC International which is expected to be concluded next Tuesday before 1MDB's proceedings begin the following day.
SRC, a former unit of 1MDB, had received RM4 billion (S$1.33 billion) in loans from the civil servant pension fund, KWAP, the court heard.
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