Najib: “I Genuinely Thought RM2.6b & Pink Diamond Were Given by Saudi Govt”

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As we all know, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is currently facing a slew of charges in the ongoing 1MDB investigation. In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera’s 101 East, he admitted that things actually went wrong but denied his involvement in any of the wrongdoings.

Source: The Star

He insisted that although he actually had ultimate oversight of the fund, he was not aware of the illegal things that occurred around it and he had done nothing wrong.

He said,

“My conscience is clear. I would not receive a single cent from sources connected with 1MDB because if it’s 1MDB, I would know right away that it would not be the right thing to do.”

Najib also mentioned that when the RM2.6 billion was deposited into his account, he assumed that it was from the Saudis as King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud had earlier assured him of their support. He explained that he “did not have any access to the banking secrets”. But he was the Prime Minister and Finance Minister though!

Source: MalayMail

He explained,

“Because whoever owns the fund is protected by the secrecy of the banking laws.”

However, the Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel Ahmed Al-Jubeir denied any relation of his government to the RM2.6 billion donation banked into Najib’s personal account when he paid a visit to current Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Astro Awani reported.

The reporter also questioned him about the investigations into the transactions, which suddenly closed down when Malaysia’s attorney general was replaced. He said that he did not do it on purpose and added, “I reject that totally because I am on record. I’m on record to say that anyone who has done something wrong will be held accountable. No one is above the law.”

Source: Straits Times

When asked about the infamous 22-carat pink diamond pendant linked to his wife, Rosmah Mansor, Najib initially explained in the interview that it was a gift from Prince Sheikh Mansour, the brother of Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed of the UAE.

Najib also denied the claim that the diamond was a gift from the elusive Jho Low, based on a report by FMT. When the interviewer revealed that jeweller Lorraine Schwartz knew the diamond was really a gift by Jho Low, Najib immediately replied,

“As far as we were concerned, it was a gift from Sheikh Mansour, who would know where it came from and who paid for it.”

The plot thickens! What do you think of Najib’s statements? Let us know in the comments section!

Also read: Najib & Ex-Treasury Secretary-General Charged For Misusing RM6.6 Bil in 1 Year

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