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Ex-foundation CEO learned of Najib's AmBank accounts from media reports

Ex-foundation CEO learned of Najib's AmBank accounts from media reports

FORMER Yayasan Rakyat 1Malaysia (YR1M) CEO Ung Su Ling only learned from media reports that the AmBank accounts receiving RM42 million belonged to former Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak.
As reported by an online portal today, Ung told the High Court that she was unaware that the funds came from SRC International Sdn Bhd when instructed by Najib's then principal private secretary the late Azlin Alias to transfer them via Ihsan Perdana Sdn Bhd (IPSB).
The funds were deposited into two AmBank accounts ending in 880 and 906, between late 2014 and early 2015.
Ung confirmed arranging three transfers from IPSB — RM27 million, RM5 million and RM10 million — but said she had no additional information about the money.
'At the material time, I was not aware of the source of these funds, nor was I informed of the same by Azlin. I can attest that these funds did not originate from nor belong to YR1M.
'However, based on subsequent media reports and the decision of the SRC International case, I understand that these funds, which were transferred to IPSB, originated from SRC,' she said during examination-in-chief.
Ung acted on Azlin's instructions to transfer the funds to the specified bank accounts without knowing who owned them.
She was testifying as the first witness for the plaintiffs in SRC International and its subsidiary Gandingan Mentari Sdn Bhd's lawsuit against Najib to recover RM42 million allegedly misappropriated from SRC International 's accounts.
When asked about the link between YR1M and IPSB, Ung explained that YR1M supported IPSB financially through grants and funding for community programmes in line with the 1Malaysia initiative.
During cross-examination by defence lawyer Farhan Shafee, she said she never felt it necessary to seek further details about the funds.
In August 2022, Najib was found guilty on seven counts of abuse of power, money laundering, and criminal breach of trust involving SRC 1Malaysia's funds.
His initial sentence of 12 years in prison and a RM210 million fine was later reduced to six years and RM50 million through a royal pardon.
The hearing before Justice Raja Ahmad Mohzanuddin Shah Raja Mohzan is ongoing. — TMR
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