The former prime minister said he did not check with Ambank on the money that he received between 2011 and 2014 but Bank Negara Malaysia was informed about the matter.

“I received the cash gift in good faith from the late king although I did not check from the bank when the money was finally deposited into my account,” he said when cross examined by ad-hoc prosecutor V Sithambaram.

Najib, in his witness statement which he read out last month, said fugitive financier Low Taek Jho told him in 2010 that King Abdullah had agreed to provide him (Najib) with support in the form of financial donations.

Najib said Low, popularly known as Jho Low, did not tell him at first about the amount or when the gift would be sent through the king’s son.

The former prime minister had also said he later met with King Abdullah who confirmed he would provide him with the cash gift.

Today, Najib said Jho Low had arranged for the donation due to his contact with the royal family but King Abdullah provided the gift due to Malaysia’s excellent ties with Saudi Arabia.

Najib said Jho Low had provided donation letters to Ambank and to his late private secretary Azlin Alias.

Questioned by Sithambaram, Najib said he assumed the money was from King Abdullah.

“I do not know the identity of the persons who transferred the money and I did not check with my bank,” he said.

However, Najib said he received about RM2.6 billion.

Questioned by Sithambaram why he did not ask for the money to be sent to the government, he said past “(Umno) presidents and prime ministers” received money in their personal capacities.

Sithambaram: I put it to you that a prime minister cannot receive a personal donation from another country.

Najib: I disagree because the Arabs give money to individuals and nations.

Najib is accused of abusing his power as prime minister by giving government guarantees on SRC International’s RM4 billion loan from Retirement Fund Inc.

He was also charged with three counts of money laundering and three counts of criminal breach of trust in the transfer of RM42 million to his accounts from the former 1MDB unit.

The defence is contending that all cheques issued by Najib for political activities and corporate and social responsibility programmes were from the donation.

Meanwhile, the prosecution’s position is that the money came from SRC.

Hearing continues before judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali.