KUALA LUMPUR: The atmosphere in the High Court was tense as a defence counsel and a witness got into a heated argument in Datuk Seri Najib Razak's corruption trial for misappropriating 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) funds.
The drama unfolded when Najib's lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah alleged that Bank Negara Malaysia analyst Adam Ariff Mohd Roslan had been working in cahoots with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to frame his client for his current criminal charges.
The senior lawyer, when cross-examining Adam, asked him about the issuance of two separate bonds by 1MDB Energy Ltd and 1MDB Energy (Langat) Ltd in 2012.
On Sept 19, Adam, who was seconded to the MACC, testified that the former prime minister received approximately US$30 million from the issuance of the said bonds.
He said the monies were remitted in two tranches – US$5 million on Oct 30, 2012, and US$25 million on Nov 19, the same year.
The 47th prosecuting witness said the bonds were arranged and underwritten by Goldman Sachs International to raise additional capital for acquiring energy assets.
Shafee argued that the witness failed to provide specific documents to this investment for the court and the defence to scrutinise.
This led Shafee to assert that Adam tried to conceal evidence, as all documents perused and examined by the witness must 'pass through the eyes of the court'.
Shafee also claimed that Adam 'lied' while preparing a money trial report that revealed the transactions of 1MDB's funds, which were funnelled into Najib's account.
The 29-year-old analyst refuted Shafee's contention by stating that he did not include the documents because he could conclude his probe that funds belonging to 1MDB were traceable inside Najib's account even without them.
Adam said that his responsibility in preparing the money trail report was to assist the MACC investigating officer, not the court. Adam added he has no issue providing the court with the documents.
Najib, 70, is facing four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.
The hearing continues on Dec 15.