Kuala Lumpur: Former Malaysian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Prof Datuk Syed Omar Syed Mohamad Al-Saggaf, told the High Court here today that he did not hear the conversation regarding financial assistance between Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and the late Saudi King Abdullah Abdul Aziz Al-Saud during their meeting in January 2010. Syed Omar, 81, who attended the meeting, said this was because he was positioned far behind them and could not hear what the two leaders discussed.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the fifth defence witness stated this during cross-examination by Deputy Public Prosecutor Kamal Baharin Omar in Najib’s trial over allegations of misappropriating RM2.3 billion from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). Syed Omar recounted that as King Abdullah and Najib exited the hall, he observed them shaking hands, with Najib appearing excited. Najib, who seemed elated as he approached Syed Omar, mentioned that they had succeeded in obtaining financial assistance, though the form of the assistance was not specified.

Syed Omar further explained that arranging the meeting was challenging and required significant time to schedule. As the ambassador, he was responsible for leading the Malaysian Embassy in facilitating the meeting. He recalled an informal closed-door meeting taking place on January 11, 2010, while the prime minister’s official visit occurred from January 13 to January 16, 2010.

On October 30 of last year, Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah ordered Najib to enter his defence after determining that the prosecution had successfully established a prima facie case against him. Najib faces 25 charges, including four counts of abusing his position to receive RM2.3 billion in 1MDB funds as bribes and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same amount. The trial is set to continue this Wednesday.