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Najib gave over RM1.3 mil to tycoon, Johor MB, politicians: 1MDB trial witness
R. Uma Devi names 15 individuals, including cabinet ministers during ex-PM’s tenure
Business tycoon Tan Sri Datuk Lim Soon Peng, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, and former Barisan Nasional cabinet ministers are among those named by AmBank Jalan Raja Chulan branch manager R. Uma Devi in her witness’ statement to the high court as recipients of the bulk of payments Datuk Seri Najib Razak (pic) made to individual figures. – AFP pic, September 27, 2022
KUALA LUMPUR – Imprisoned former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak issued 20 cheques worth over RM1.3 million to 15 individuals, mostly politicians aligned with Barisan Nasional (BN) or its lynchpin Umno, according to a witness in his ongoing 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) corruption trial.
Business tycoon Tan Sri Datuk Lim Soon Peng, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, and former Barisan Nasional (BN) cabinet ministers are among those named by AmBank Jalan Raja Chulan branch manager R. Uma Devi in her witness’ statement to the high court as recipients of the bulk of payments Najib made to individual figures.
1. Tan Sri Datuk Lim Soon Peng
According to her testimony, Lim, who is the founder of property developer Titijaya Land Bhd, was the individual who had received the most funds from Najib’s personal AmBank account at RM246,000 on August 7, 2013.
A previous witness, AmBank senior manager Badrul Hisham Mohamad, said on September 7 that Najib issued a cheque to Lim worth RM1 million on April 16, 2012.
This is also not the first time in recent years that Lim’s name has cropped up, as previous Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commision (MACC) investigations had reportedly uncovered how Najib made at least nine transfers to the tycoon totalling RM31.103 million between 2012 to 2015, including the transaction mentioned by Uma Devi.
Lim was also among 80 individuals and entities slapped with a compound notice by the anti-graft body in October 2019 to cough up over RM420 million of 1MDB-linked monies received from Najib.
Other personalities singled out by MACC then include former deputy finance minister and Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, as well as former domestic trade and consumer affairs minister Tan Sri Shahrir Samad.
KUALA LUMPUR – Imprisoned former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak issued 20 cheques worth over RM1.3 million to 15 individuals, mostly politicians aligned with Barisan Nasional (BN) or its lynchpin Umno, according to a witness in his ongoing 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) corruption trial.
Business tycoon Tan Sri Datuk Lim Soon Peng, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, and former Barisan Nasional (BN) cabinet ministers are among those named by AmBank Jalan Raja Chulan branch manager R. Uma Devi in her witness’ statement to the high court as recipients of the bulk of payments Najib made to individual figures.
1. Tan Sri Datuk Lim Soon Peng
According to her testimony, Lim, who is the founder of property developer Titijaya Land Bhd, was the individual who had received the most funds from Najib’s personal AmBank account at RM246,000 on August 7, 2013.
A previous witness, AmBank senior manager Badrul Hisham Mohamad, said on September 7 that Najib issued a cheque to Lim worth RM1 million on April 16, 2012.
This is also not the first time in recent years that Lim’s name has cropped up, as previous Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commision (MACC) investigations had reportedly uncovered how Najib made at least nine transfers to the tycoon totalling RM31.103 million between 2012 to 2015, including the transaction mentioned by Uma Devi.
Lim was also among 80 individuals and entities slapped with a compound notice by the anti-graft body in October 2019 to cough up over RM420 million of 1MDB-linked monies received from Najib.
Other personalities singled out by MACC then include former deputy finance minister and Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, as well as former domestic trade and consumer affairs minister Tan Sri Shahrir Samad.
This is also not the first time in recent years that Tan Sri Datuk Lim Soon Peng’s (pic) name has cropped up, as previous Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commision investigations had reportedly uncovered how Datuk Seri Najib Razak made at least nine transfers to the tycoon totalling RM31.103 million between 2012 to 2015, including the transaction mentioned by Uma Devi. – Tan Sri SP Lim website pic, September 27, 2022
Prior to that, in April 2019, Najib’s former political secretary Wong Nai Chee had testified during the 1MDB corruption trial that Lim acted as an intermediary to shield Najib’s spending on what was essentially propaganda work aimed at local Chinese.
Referring to a transaction of RM238,914 on February 13, 2015 from Najib to Lim, Wong claimed that the latter was counted on to “mobilise the Chinese grassroots community”. The payment was for two companies, namely AD Network and Akademi Kewartawanan & Informasi Taima, which did propaganda work to boost Najib’s image among local Chinese.
In October 2018, with the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government in power, Lim’s lawyers wrote to then MACC chief Mohd Shukri Abdull appealing for MACC’s freeze on Lim’s bank accounts to be lifted, as the anti-graft agency had been investigating RM4 million he received from Najib.
In August 2020, after the fall of the PH government, then law minister Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan alleged that former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and former finance minister Lim Guan Eng had interfered, getting the attorney-general Tommy Thomas at the time to lift the freeze on the tycoon’s account, after the latter agreed to return a portion of the sum equivalent to the illegal earnings received from Najib in relation to the 1MDB scandal.
2. Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi
Uma Devi also revealed that the current Johor menteri besar had received four payments from Najib between March and May in 2012 totalling RM200,000.
Previously, in April 2019, Onn Hafiz had testified as a prosecution witness in his capacity as a shareholder of consultancy firm Vital Spire Sdn Bhd for Najib’s 1MDB-linked SRC International Sdn Bhd corruption trial.
He said then that he had received a payment of RM240,000 on January 30, 2015 from Najib to operate news portal Malaysian Digest, which is currently defunct after it was shut down in July 2018 following BN losing the 14th general election.
Aside from covering international and local news, the portal – which was apparently formed under Najib’s orders – was also allegedly set up to disseminate “balanced” information to the public and counter fake news.
Prior to that, in April 2019, Najib’s former political secretary Wong Nai Chee had testified during the 1MDB corruption trial that Lim acted as an intermediary to shield Najib’s spending on what was essentially propaganda work aimed at local Chinese.
Referring to a transaction of RM238,914 on February 13, 2015 from Najib to Lim, Wong claimed that the latter was counted on to “mobilise the Chinese grassroots community”. The payment was for two companies, namely AD Network and Akademi Kewartawanan & Informasi Taima, which did propaganda work to boost Najib’s image among local Chinese.
In October 2018, with the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government in power, Lim’s lawyers wrote to then MACC chief Mohd Shukri Abdull appealing for MACC’s freeze on Lim’s bank accounts to be lifted, as the anti-graft agency had been investigating RM4 million he received from Najib.
In August 2020, after the fall of the PH government, then law minister Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan alleged that former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and former finance minister Lim Guan Eng had interfered, getting the attorney-general Tommy Thomas at the time to lift the freeze on the tycoon’s account, after the latter agreed to return a portion of the sum equivalent to the illegal earnings received from Najib in relation to the 1MDB scandal.
2. Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi
Uma Devi also revealed that the current Johor menteri besar had received four payments from Najib between March and May in 2012 totalling RM200,000.
Previously, in April 2019, Onn Hafiz had testified as a prosecution witness in his capacity as a shareholder of consultancy firm Vital Spire Sdn Bhd for Najib’s 1MDB-linked SRC International Sdn Bhd corruption trial.
He said then that he had received a payment of RM240,000 on January 30, 2015 from Najib to operate news portal Malaysian Digest, which is currently defunct after it was shut down in July 2018 following BN losing the 14th general election.
Aside from covering international and local news, the portal – which was apparently formed under Najib’s orders – was also allegedly set up to disseminate “balanced” information to the public and counter fake news.
Previously, in April 2019, Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi (pic) had testified as a prosecution witness in his capacity as a shareholder of consultancy firm Vital Spire Sdn Bhd for Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1MDB-linked SRC International Sdn Bhd corruption trial. – Bernama pic, September 27, 2022
3. Datuk Ab Aziz Kaprawi
Uma Devi also mentioned transactions amounting to RM350,000 from Najib to four former BN cabinet members.
One was Aziz, a former deputy transport minister from 2013 to 2018 whom Najib had given RM100,000 on October 11, 2011.
The payment was made during Aziz’s time as the Parit Raja state assemblyman (2004 -2013) and subsequently Sri Gading MP (2013-2018), during which he had asserted that the Middle Eastern donor who allegedly gave Najib RM2.6 billion made the contribution so that Umno could fight “Jewish-funded” opposition party DAP during the 2013 general election.
4. Datuk Murugiah Thopasamy
The current MIC vice-president – whom Uma Devi said received a total of RM100,000 from Najib in two transactions in 2012 – was likewise appointed by Najib to be a deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in 2009, a post he retained until 2011 along with his seat in the Dewan Negara.
Murugiah in May 2009 had been fired from BN component People’s Progressive Party (MyPPP) for defaming and slandering the party’s then president Tan Sri M. Kayveas in his bid to challenge the latter for his post.
Subsequently, then MIC president Samy Vellu put aside initial reservations on Murugiah and accepted him into the party in July 2010 at the request of Najib, who supposedly viewed Murugiah as an “up-and-coming” Indian youth leader who could attract young voters to support BN.
3. Datuk Ab Aziz Kaprawi
Uma Devi also mentioned transactions amounting to RM350,000 from Najib to four former BN cabinet members.
One was Aziz, a former deputy transport minister from 2013 to 2018 whom Najib had given RM100,000 on October 11, 2011.
The payment was made during Aziz’s time as the Parit Raja state assemblyman (2004 -2013) and subsequently Sri Gading MP (2013-2018), during which he had asserted that the Middle Eastern donor who allegedly gave Najib RM2.6 billion made the contribution so that Umno could fight “Jewish-funded” opposition party DAP during the 2013 general election.
4. Datuk Murugiah Thopasamy
The current MIC vice-president – whom Uma Devi said received a total of RM100,000 from Najib in two transactions in 2012 – was likewise appointed by Najib to be a deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in 2009, a post he retained until 2011 along with his seat in the Dewan Negara.
Murugiah in May 2009 had been fired from BN component People’s Progressive Party (MyPPP) for defaming and slandering the party’s then president Tan Sri M. Kayveas in his bid to challenge the latter for his post.
Subsequently, then MIC president Samy Vellu put aside initial reservations on Murugiah and accepted him into the party in July 2010 at the request of Najib, who supposedly viewed Murugiah as an “up-and-coming” Indian youth leader who could attract young voters to support BN.
Datuk Murugiah Thopasamy (pic) – whom R. Uma Devi said received a total of RM100,000 from Datuk Seri Najib Razak in two transactions in 2012 – was appointed by Najib to be a deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in 2009, a post he retained until 2011 along with his seat in the Dewan Negara. – T. Murugiah Facebook pic, September 27, 2022
5. Datuk Seri Hasan Malek
Uma Devi’s testimony also said that Hasan, the former domestic trade, cooperatives and consumerism minister from 2013 to 2015, had received RM100,000 from Najib on April 30, 2012.
The transaction coincides with his time as deputy rural and regional development minister (2009 to 2013) and tenure as Kuala Pilah MP (2004 to 2018).
On June 22, 2019, Hasan was among 41 entities comprising individuals, companies and political parties named by the MACC in a civil forfeiture suit aiming to recover RM270 million allegedly linked to 1MDB through Najib.
The forfeiture application – made under Section 56(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Amla) – led to Hasan surrendering to the goverment RM100,000 seized by the MACC from his account.
It is unclear whether the amount forfeited to the government is the one mentioned by Uma Devi or if other transactions had occurred between Hasan and Najib.
6. Tan Sri Datuk Kasitah Gaddam
Similarly, this former land and cooperatives development minister, who had also been listed as a defendant in the MACC suit, received a payment of RM100,000 from Najib on January 5, 2012, according to Uma Devi’s statement.
In July 2020, the high court here dismissed the forfeiture suit for RM100,000 against Kasitah, with judicial commissioner Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh stating in his ruling that MACC had failed to provide sufficient evidence that the seized funds were proceeds from unlawful activities.
While the funds seized were obtained by Kasitah from Najib through a cheque dated February 2, 2012 – a separate date from the transaction noted by Uma Devi – AmBank senior manager Badrul Hisham Mohamad’s recent testimony on September 7 confirmed that the transaction singled out by the MACC had occurred.
5. Datuk Seri Hasan Malek
Uma Devi’s testimony also said that Hasan, the former domestic trade, cooperatives and consumerism minister from 2013 to 2015, had received RM100,000 from Najib on April 30, 2012.
The transaction coincides with his time as deputy rural and regional development minister (2009 to 2013) and tenure as Kuala Pilah MP (2004 to 2018).
On June 22, 2019, Hasan was among 41 entities comprising individuals, companies and political parties named by the MACC in a civil forfeiture suit aiming to recover RM270 million allegedly linked to 1MDB through Najib.
The forfeiture application – made under Section 56(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Amla) – led to Hasan surrendering to the goverment RM100,000 seized by the MACC from his account.
It is unclear whether the amount forfeited to the government is the one mentioned by Uma Devi or if other transactions had occurred between Hasan and Najib.
6. Tan Sri Datuk Kasitah Gaddam
Similarly, this former land and cooperatives development minister, who had also been listed as a defendant in the MACC suit, received a payment of RM100,000 from Najib on January 5, 2012, according to Uma Devi’s statement.
In July 2020, the high court here dismissed the forfeiture suit for RM100,000 against Kasitah, with judicial commissioner Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh stating in his ruling that MACC had failed to provide sufficient evidence that the seized funds were proceeds from unlawful activities.
While the funds seized were obtained by Kasitah from Najib through a cheque dated February 2, 2012 – a separate date from the transaction noted by Uma Devi – AmBank senior manager Badrul Hisham Mohamad’s recent testimony on September 7 confirmed that the transaction singled out by the MACC had occurred.
In July 2020, the high court in Kuala Lumpur dismissed the forfeiture suit for RM100,000 against Tan Sri Datuk Kasitah Gaddam (pic), with judicial commissioner Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh stating in his ruling that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission had failed to provide sufficient evidence that the seized funds were proceeds from unlawful activities. – Bernama pic, September 27, 2022
7. Ahmad Kamaruzaman Baria
Badrul Hisham also named Ahmad Kamaruzaman Baria as a payee of RM50,000 on March 13, 2012, while Uma Devi said that the former Jerantut MP and Jerantut Umno division chief had received RM50,000 on February 15 of the same year.
8. Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan
Another past cabinet member mentioned by Uma Devi is this former deputy international trade and industry minister, who received RM200,000 from Najib on June 14, 2011, concurring with his time as Baran MP from 1995 to 2013.
He was a leader of then BN-component Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party, now renamed as Progressive Democratic Party and no longer part of BN, having joined Gabungan Parti Sarawak.
7. Ahmad Kamaruzaman Baria
Badrul Hisham also named Ahmad Kamaruzaman Baria as a payee of RM50,000 on March 13, 2012, while Uma Devi said that the former Jerantut MP and Jerantut Umno division chief had received RM50,000 on February 15 of the same year.
8. Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan
Another past cabinet member mentioned by Uma Devi is this former deputy international trade and industry minister, who received RM200,000 from Najib on June 14, 2011, concurring with his time as Baran MP from 1995 to 2013.
He was a leader of then BN-component Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party, now renamed as Progressive Democratic Party and no longer part of BN, having joined Gabungan Parti Sarawak.
Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan was a leader of then BN-component Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party, now renamed as Progressive Democratic Party and no longer part of BN, having joined Gabungan Parti Sarawak. – Bernama pic, September 27, 2022
9. Datuk Mohammad Fakhruddin Mohd Arif
Uma Devi also named Pahang state executive councillor and Bebar assemblyman Datuk Mohammad Fakhruddin Mohd Arif.
A payment of RM30,000 was made to him by Najib on August 9, 2011, during which the former was a director of Felda Engineering Services Sdn Bhd from 2004 to 2015, a company under FGV Holdings Bhd that was later put up for liquidation in 2019.
10. Datuk Seri Ishak Muhamad
The Pahang assembly speaker, who was Bebar assemblyman prior to Fakruddin, also allegedly received the same amount of RM30,000 on August 20 in 2011.
11 & 12. Datuk Mohamed Idris Abu Bakar and Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Harun
Deceased personalities mentioned by the witness include former Hulu Bernam assemblyman Mohamed Idris, who died on May 5, 2014, and former Chini assemblyman Abu Bakar, who passed away on May 6, 2020.
Idris allegedly received RM150,000 from Najib in two separate transactions in 2011 and 2012, while Bakar, the ex-Pekan Umno deputy chief, purportedly obtained RM30,000 on August 20, 2011.
13, 14 & 15. Melati Ali, Minah Wee Wat and Ahmad Baijuri Ahmad Fauzi
These three individuals specified by Uma Devi as having received monies from Najib in 2011 could not be identified by The Vibes due to a lack of online presence.
Melati allegedly received RM39,500 on September 20, Minah RM5,000 on September 20 and Ahmad Baijuri Ahmad Fauzi RM50,000 on October 10.
Besides individuals, Uma Devi’s statement had also mentioned that Najib paid over RM30 million to political groups between 2011 and 2013.
Najib’s 1MDB trial is ongoing before judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah. – The Vibes, September 27, 2022
9. Datuk Mohammad Fakhruddin Mohd Arif
Uma Devi also named Pahang state executive councillor and Bebar assemblyman Datuk Mohammad Fakhruddin Mohd Arif.
A payment of RM30,000 was made to him by Najib on August 9, 2011, during which the former was a director of Felda Engineering Services Sdn Bhd from 2004 to 2015, a company under FGV Holdings Bhd that was later put up for liquidation in 2019.
10. Datuk Seri Ishak Muhamad
The Pahang assembly speaker, who was Bebar assemblyman prior to Fakruddin, also allegedly received the same amount of RM30,000 on August 20 in 2011.
11 & 12. Datuk Mohamed Idris Abu Bakar and Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Harun
Deceased personalities mentioned by the witness include former Hulu Bernam assemblyman Mohamed Idris, who died on May 5, 2014, and former Chini assemblyman Abu Bakar, who passed away on May 6, 2020.
Idris allegedly received RM150,000 from Najib in two separate transactions in 2011 and 2012, while Bakar, the ex-Pekan Umno deputy chief, purportedly obtained RM30,000 on August 20, 2011.
13, 14 & 15. Melati Ali, Minah Wee Wat and Ahmad Baijuri Ahmad Fauzi
These three individuals specified by Uma Devi as having received monies from Najib in 2011 could not be identified by The Vibes due to a lack of online presence.
Melati allegedly received RM39,500 on September 20, Minah RM5,000 on September 20 and Ahmad Baijuri Ahmad Fauzi RM50,000 on October 10.
Besides individuals, Uma Devi’s statement had also mentioned that Najib paid over RM30 million to political groups between 2011 and 2013.
Najib’s 1MDB trial is ongoing before judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah. – The Vibes, September 27, 2022
Bossku Chai Shen Yeh.
ReplyDeleteNo wonder so many people love Bossku.
Huge amounts of money flowed into Bossku's personal bank account, and huge amounts were disbursed as he saw fit
ReplyDeleteBy definition this is Income...it doesn't matter whether you spent all or none of it. .. so Bossku owes the Internal Revenue Department mega millions in unpaid income tax...fair and square.