PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Razak told the High Court today that public officers could accept gifts as long as their integrity was not compromised.
The former prime minister said this when responding to questions about millions of ringgit allegedly remitted into his personal bank accounts by Saudi royalty between 2011 and 2014.
During cross-examination, deputy public prosecutor Kamal Baharin Omar referred to a provision in the code of ethics for members of the administration, which states: "Members of the administration must avoid using their position for personal gain, such as requesting or accepting any gifts, payments, or benefits that could compromise their integrity."
Kamal asked Najib if it was appropriate to receive millions purportedly from the late king Abdullah Abdulaziz Al-Saud through Saud Abdulaziz bin Majid Al-Saud in 2011.
Najib said it was not improper, provided his integrity remained intact.
"I do not consider that as compromising integrity. If the gift influences decision-making, then it is unacceptable.But if it is unrelated to one's power, then it is not an issue. That is my understanding," he said before presiding judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah today.
The former Pekan member of parliament disagreed with the prosecution's suggestion that he was obligated to inform his cabinet about receiving the funds.
The trial has established that Najib purportedly received millions from the late King Abdullah through Saud Abdulaziz between 2011 and 2014.
These funds were deposited into Najib's personal Ambank account via entities linked to fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, including the shell company Tanore Finance Corporation.
Earlier, it was heard that Najib decided to return a portion of the funds after the 2013 General Election to avoid potential misinterpretations about the large sum in his account.
Najib, in his witness statement, said he used the funds for the purposes he believed they were intended, namely political activities and corporate social responsibility initiatives.
He added that he would not have deposited the funds into his personal account if he had known that Blackstone and Tanore were unconnected to the late King Abdullah.
Najib faces four charges of abusing his position to secure RM2.3 billion in bribes from 1Malaysia Development Bhd funds and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same amount.
The trial continues.