Kuala lumpur: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today conceded in the High Court here that the RM42 million deposited into his personal bank accounts was unrelated to any Saudi donation. The former prime minister made this admission under cross-examination by SRC International Sdn Bhd's counsel, Kwan Will Sen, as part of the RM42 million civil suit filed against him by SRC and its subsidiary, Gandingan Mentari Sdn Bhd.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Najib stated, "At that particular time, I thought it was a Saudi donation." During the proceedings, Kwan questioned Najib about his claim regarding the Saudi donation, which had been comprehensively dismissed by the courts in related criminal cases. Najib acknowledged that all levels of the courts rejected his defense in the SRC International criminal case, although he emphasized that he felt he had not received a fair trial at the Federal Court.

Kwan further pressed Najib on the lack of documentary evidence to support his defense in the High Court's recent 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) verdicts. Najib admitted that the majority finding upheld the conclusion that the funds were not a Saudi donation, stating, "Yes, unfortunately, yes."

The 2021 civil suit, initiated by SRC and Gandingan Mentari, aims to declare Najib liable for the RM42 million and seeks damages for knowing receipt, dishonest assistance, misfeasance in public office, and abuse of power. The hearing before Justice Datuk Raja Ahmad Mohzanuddin Shah Raja Mohzan is scheduled to resume tomorrow.