Former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib denied influencing the board of directors of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) to collaborate with PetroSaudi International (PSI).
"Why am I blamed? I did not pressure or force the board to establish this collaboration plan."
Najib said he believed that a board composed of professionals would not make decisions that would harm the country.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Ahmad Akram said that Najib, as the Finance Minister at the time, was the sole shareholder of 1MDB and hence could not blame the board for the decision.
Najib responded that this did not mean the board could shirk its fiduciary responsibility.
Najib was in court defending himself against charges related to RM2 billion from 1MDB funds being transferred into his personal bank account.
Najib previously confirmed that he did not check the actual ownership of PetroSaudi International, insisting that the decision to establish a $1 billion partnership with the company was up to the 1MDB board, and that the company's lawyers must conduct the checks.
"This is not the work that I, as the Prime Minister, should do."
Regarding the fugitive Malaysian businessman Jho Low attending a 1MDB board meeting on September 26, 2009, as Najib's representative, Ahmad Akram questioned Najib, stating that he seemed to "assume" many things based on what Jho Low told him.
According to witness testimony, Jho Low handed his phone to then-board chairman Tan Sri Baki, who testified that Najib urged them over the phone to quickly consider the collaboration and "make a firm decision" on it.
Najib denied making any instructions during the phone conversation, stating that he only encouraged them to make wise decisions, emphasizing that as a board, they had the responsibility to check the ownership of the other company when establishing a joint venture.