KUALA LUMPUR – The former Chief Executive Officer of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), Arul Kanda Kandasamy stated his readiness to be the prosecution witness in the 1MDB final audit report tampering case.
His lawyer, Datuk N. Sivanathan stated Arul’s readiness when questioned by High Court Judge, Mohamed Zaini Mazlan today. The judge also cut Sivanathan off halfway as he was explaining about the reasons why Arul Kanda agreed to become the prosecution witness and testify against former Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“Speak in English (simple language), does your client agree to become the prosecution witness?” Mohamed Zaini said, laughing.
Those in the court gallery joined in and laughed.
“Yes, Your Honour. My client agrees with the request of the prosecution, to become the witness of this case,” said Sivanathan.
However, Sivanathan emphasised that his client’s testimonies as a witness will be similar to those that he had given to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) earlier.
“That is the stand of my client, everything said to the MACC will be the same as his testimony as a witness later,” he said.
Mohamed Zaini then set 24 June to deliver the decision to the prosecution’s request of having Arul Kanda testifying as witness.
Najib and Arul Kanda are jointly charged with tampering the final audit report of the strategic investment company.
Najib, who is also the Member of Parliament of Pekan was charged with abusing his position as the then Finance Minister in ordering the amendment to the 1MDB final audit report, before it was presented to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to avoid action against himself.
Arul Kanda was charged with abetting with Najib in making those amendments.
Upon conviction, the charge framed under Section 23(1) of the MACC Act 2009 carries a jail sentence of up to 20 years and a fine not less than five times of the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher. -MalaysiaGazette
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