KUALA LUMPUR: A witness in the SRC International trial told the High Court here he ran to Bangkok in fear in 2015 over the scandal that had befallen the subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB). 

Retiree Datuk Suboh Md Yassin, 68, a former director of SRC, said he initially contacted the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to explain the situation in SRC which the commission was being investigating. 

However, before he had a chance to do so, Suboh received a phone call from an anonymous person who introduced himself as a MACC representative. 

“The caller told me not to go to MACC’s office and ordered me to leave Malaysia. 

“I was fearful of what was happening and because Datuk Seri Najib Razak was in power as the prime minister at that time. 

“I did not know what would happen to me or my family, so I made the decision to run away to Bangkok, Thailand, with my wife for a month,” he said, adding that he footed the bills on his own. 

Suboh was reading from his witness statement at the corruption trial of former prime minister Najib, who faces seven charges relating to misappropriation of RM42mil in SRC funds. 

While in Bangkok, Suboh said, he met with a Thai man who handed over flight tickets for him and his wife to Abu Dhabi. 

“My wife and I took the flight to Abu Dhabi from Bangkok. 

"In Abu Dhabi, an Arab man waited for me at the airport. We were taken to the Rosewood Hotel and stayed there for about a week. 

“The flight and accommodation were arranged but I did not know who footed the cost (sic),” he said. 

Suboh said after about a week, he boarded a flight back to Bangkok and subsequently to Malaysia. 

“After I returned, I was contacted by former SRC CEO Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil, who ordered me to run away again from Malaysia to avoid investigation by the authorities. 

“However, I decided not to run and stay in Malaysia to assist the investigation,” he said. 

To a question by the prosecution, Suboh said he received the call from Nik Faisal after the last general election.

Najib is facing seven charges involving RM42mil in funds belonging to SRC International, formerly a subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

On July 4 last year, Najib claimed trial to a charge of abuse of power and three counts of criminal breach of trust linked to the 1MDB scandal.

He allegedly misappropriated RM42mil in funds belonging to SRC International.

On Aug 8 last year, he was charged with three counts of money laundering involving the same RM42mil.

The hearing continues before Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali this afternoon.