Former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib stated that he never sent a thank-you letter to members of the Saudi Arabian royal family for political donations.
While testifying in court today (10th) for the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case, he admitted to receiving $20 million in 2011 from Prince Faisal of Saudi Arabia.
He said he believed Faisal acted on orders from the late King Abdullah to transfer the funds.
"Royal family members (like Prince Faisal) wouldn't act personally."
When asked by Deputy Public Prosecutor Kamal why he didn't send a letter of thanks after receiving the funds, Najib stated that all correspondence needed to go through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and that it was a sensitive issue.
Kamal: In Malay customs, shouldn't we express gratitude after receiving someone's contribution?
Najib: This is a private matter for me.
Najib told the court that after meeting King Abdullah in 2010, he informed then-private secretary Datuk Azlin of the need to open a bank account to receive the funds.
He continued, saying the fugitive businessman Jho Low informed him that the aid funds amounted close to $1 billion.
"Azlin (private secretary) introduced me to Cheah Tek Kuang (then managing director of AmBank Malaysia)."
Najib opened savings and checking accounts at the bank, which were closed in 2013 and subsequently reopened with three checking accounts in the same year.
He said he didn't know how Prince Faisal got his account details to transfer the funds, and it was likely Jho Low who told Prince Faisal.
Kamal: Who informed you about the incoming funds?
Najib: I believe it was Cheah Tek Kuang.
The presiding judge, Datuk Collin, has scheduled the continuation of this case for January 13.
Najib faces 25 charges in this prosecution, with four concerning abuse of power and corruption involving RM2.27 billion, and the other 21 charges relating to receiving and transferring illegal proceeds.
Najib is charged with abuse of power between February 24, 2011, and December 19, 2014, at AmBank in Jalan Raja Chulan, Kuala Lumpur, while the money laundering charges relate to crimes committed between March 22, 2013, and August 30, 2013, at the same bank.
Najib was charged on September 20, 2018, and the criminal trial began on August 28, 2019, with the prosecution presenting 50 witnesses to testify.