KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak spent RM3.3 million on a gift for the wife of the former prime minister of Qatar, the High Court heard today.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officer Rosli Husain testified that the big gift was given to the said leader’s wife because of the good ties between the two nations.
Rosli, 54, cross examined by Najib’s counsel Farhan Read said however that it was a “mere claim” when asked whether Najib had purchased jewellery from De Grisogono Italy, a Swiss luxury jeweller.
Farhan then produced a letter of appreciation from Noor Abdulaziz Abdulla Turki Al-Subaie, the wife of Qatar’s former prime minister, which was addressed to Najib’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor in appreciation of the gift.
Rosli who is the last prosecution witness in Najib’s corruption trial involving RM42 million in SRC International Sdn Bhd funds was shown the letter dated Aug 15, 2014, but said he had never seen it.
Farhan: Did Najib mention that the gift was for the wife of Qatar prime minister?
Rosli: Yes. The former prime minister.
Farhan: Did he mention that there was an appreciation letter from Noor Abdulaziz?
Rosli: Can you show the letter to me. Let me see it. I have never seen it.
Rosli: But this letter was addressed to Rosmah.
After examining the copy, Rosli confirmed he had never seen the letter.
“Rosmah had never mentioned to me about this letter,” he said.
Previously, the court heard that the former prime minister had spent RM3.35 million in a day at a Swiss jeweller and watch store in Italy using two of his credit cards.
The senior vice- president of Ambank Group (credit card, authorisation and banking fraud management) Yeoh Eng Leong testified that Najib used his Ambank visa platinum and platinum master card for the transactions on Aug 8, 2014.
Najib, 66, is facing seven charges of criminal breach of trust, abuse of power and money-laundering involving RM42 million of SRC International funds.
The Pekan member of parliament is charged with committing the offences between Aug 17, 2011, and Feb 10, 2015.
He faces 20 years’ jail and fine for the offences.