Kuala Lumpur: A former director of SRC International Sdn Bhd Datuk Suboh Md Yassin told the High Court here today that he signed four blank cheques but did not know they were for UMNO and UMNO Selangor.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Datuk Suboh Md Yassin, 74, stated he signed the blank cheques after SRC’s former chief executive officer (CEO) Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil informed him that it was the instructions from ‘pihak atas’, namely DSN (Datuk Seri Najib). Suboh recounted that the cheques were presented to him without any recipient or amount specified, and he did not realize they were intended for the defendants, UMNO and UMNO Selangor.
The cheques were pre-signed by Nik Faisal, and after Suboh signed them, Nik Faisal took them away, never to be seen by Suboh again. Suboh provided this testimony while reading his witness statement at the hearing of SRC and its subsidiaries, Gandingan Mentari Sdn Bhd and Jendela Pinggiran Sdn Bhd’s lawsuit against UMNO and UMNO Selangor.
During the proceedings, counsel Razlan Hadri Zulkifli, representing SRC, referred Suboh to documents related to the four cheques. Suboh, as the second SRC witness, confirmed that the cheques, issued by Jendela Pinggiran, amounted to RM16 million for UMNO and RM3.5 million for UMNO Selangor. When questioned by Razlan Hadri about who signed the cheques, Suboh identified both himself and Nik Faisal as the signatories.
Suboh expressed that he trusted Nik Faisal due to his position as CEO and his perceived closeness to Najib, leading to no reason for doubt. He explained that the entire board of directors typically accepted Nik Faisal’s communications as directives from Datuk Seri Najib, and they acted accordingly throughout his tenure at SRC, Gandingan Mentari, and Jendela Pinggiran.
Suboh, also a director for Gandingan Mentari and Jendela Pinggiran at the relevant time, mentioned that any communication or instructions from Najib were relayed through Nik Faisal, who approached him predominantly for document signing. Suboh’s inquiries were often dismissed with statements suggesting the transactions were at the behest of DSN, such as ‘boss nak lah’ or ‘diminta pihak atas’. Typically, the documents were already signed by Nik Faisal, and Suboh was required to countersign per his request.
In their lawsuit against UMNO, the plaintiffs are seeking RM16 million, claiming it was wrongfully transferred to the political party without basis. The second lawsuit involves a claim for RM3.5 million against Badan Perhubungan UMNO Selangor (Selangor UMNO), which is also alleged to have inappropriately received the funds.
The hearing is scheduled to continue tomorrow before Judge Datuk Raja Ahmad Mohzanuddin Shah Raja Mohzan.