Kuala Lumpur: The High Court was informed today that Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak acted as the shadow director of SRC International Sdn Bhd and was directly involved in distributing cheques totaling RM16 million and RM3.5 million to UMNO and Selangor UMNO, respectively.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, lawyer Razlan Hadri Zulkifli, representing SRC and its subsidiaries, Gandingan Mentari Sdn Bhd and Jendela Pinggiran Sdn Bhd, revealed during the opening statement that the funds received by UMNO and Selangor UMNO were through cheques issued by Jendela Pinggiran. He stated that the directors and authorized signatories of Jendela Pinggiran issued blank cheques to Datuk Seri Najib, who then handed them over to the two defendants.

Razlan Hadri Zulkifli noted that evidence will indicate Najib’s role as the shadow director of SRC and his dual positions as both Advisor Emeritus of SRC and president of UMNO and Selangor UMNO. The trial is part of a lawsuit filed by SRC and its subsidiaries against UMNO and Selangor UMNO in May 2021, seeking the return of funds transferred to the political parties.

The lawsuit against UMNO involves a claim for RM16 million, while the suit against Selangor UMNO demands RM3.5 million. Razlan Hadri explained that these funds originated from KWAP Loans granted in 2011 and 2012, totaling RM4 billion. Of this, RM3.6 billion was transferred to SRC’s foreign subsidiary in the British Virgin Islands, and RM400 million was retained in Malaysia for working capital, which is the focus of the current case.

The first witness in the trial, Prokhas Sdn Bhd Deputy General Manager Saiful Nizam Yassin, who served as the company secretary for SRC, Jendela Pinggiran, and Gandingan Mentari at the relevant time, provided testimony. The trial continues after settlement negotiations between the parties failed. UMNO is represented by lawyer Mohamed Shahrul Fazli Kamarulzaman, while Datuk Hasnal Rezua Merican represents Selangor UMNO.