Najib transferred RM3.49 million to lawyer firm after cheque prosessing mishap - Witness

KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 (Bernama) -- Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak transferred RM3.49 million to law firm Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak after a cheque processing mishap by the bank resulted in the firm only receiving RM3,500 from the actual amount of RM3.5 million.

Ambank's Jalan Raja Chulan brach cheque processing division chief Badrul Hisam Mohamad said the balance was transferred by Najib into the law firm's account on Feb 12, 2015.

"The balance was paid through the Real-time Electronic Transfer of Funds and Securities System (RENTAS) by the customer named Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak," said the fifth prosecution witness.

He said this during the examination-in-chief by DPP Muhammad Saifuddin Hashim Musaimi on the fifth day of Najib's trial for misappropriation of funds from SRC International Sdn Bhd at the High Court here.

Hafarizam Wan and Aisha Mubarak have represented Najib in numerous civil suits in the past.

Earlier, the witness told reporters that the mistake was made by the receiving bank, namely the CIMB Bank branch at the Putra World Trade Center (PWTC) which only deposited RM3,500 into the law firm's account.

"We (Ambank) did not know about this until we were informed by the receiving bank, CIMB Bank at PWTC.

"When the receiving bank processed the cheque, the amount which should have been credited into Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak's account was RM3.5 million but the beneficiary's bank had made an input error when it only credited RM3,500," he said.

Najib, 66, is facing three counts of criminal breach of trust, one charge of abusing his position and three counts of money laundering over SRC International Sdn Bhd funds amounting to RM42 million.

-- BERNAMA