KUALA LUMPUR: A prosecution witness today almost got Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s lawyer pulling out his hair in frustration when she kept asking him to repeat his questions.
However, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah maintained his cool and managed to coax the witness into answering by asking her to relax and not to fear.
“I am a very polite cross examiner.
“So don’t be afraid to answer,” he said causing even Najib to break down in laughter.
Shafee then went on to question the witness, Afidah Azwa Abdul Aziz, in a relaxed fashion and she responded in a likewise manner.
He then took her through some hard-hitting questions concerning her role in preparing a memorandum for SRC International’s requests for government guarantees for the RM4 billion loan the company had sought from the Retirement Fund Inc (KWAP) in 2011 and 2012.
At the end of the session, which lasted about an hour, Shafee extended an apology to Afidah.
“I apologise if you were in any way offended during the course of my cross examination,” he said, as Afidah nodded in acknowledgement.
Later, Shafee had another interesting session when he was questioning the 40th prosecution witness, Tan Sri Mazidah Abdul Majid.
The 70-year old former cabinet deputy secretary–general was sharp in her answers and did not miss a beat when she was being grilled by Shafee.
At one point, Shafee told her not to be worried with what he was about to ask her.
However, the retiree responded with an answer which no one expected.
“Really? You think I really don’t have to worry?,” she said as Shafee responded with a grin.
These exchanges happened during the course of Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s trial, in which the former prime minister is accused of misappropriating RM42 million of SRC International Sdn Bhd’s funds.