Suboh Yasin, who joined SRC International in 2011, said that the company carried out its day-to-day activities as if it was an “extension” of the finance ministry.
“The running of SRC International felt just like another government department under Datuk Seri (Najib), who was prime minister and finance minister,” he said.
Suboh claimed that Najib exercised “full and absolute control” over all aspects of the company’s operations, even to the exclusion of the board of directors.
“I felt that my role in SRC International was no different from that of being a civil servant in a government department,” he told the court in SRC International’s lawsuit against Najib and former CEO Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil.
SRC International is suing Najib and Nik Faisal for wrongfully receiving company property, and dishonestly and wrongfully conspiring to convert company property to their own use.
A judgment in default of appearance has been entered against Nik Faisal.
The suit originally included Suboh, and fellow former directors Ismee Ismail, Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi, Azhar Osman Khairuddin and Che Abdullah @ Rashidi Che Omar, as co-defendants.
SRC International later dropped the case against them. However, they were added as third parties by Najib.
Suboh, who was a former civil servant, said the directors were accustomed to following all directions from “the top”.
“If the top required us to do something, we were not in any position to go against any decision we were instructed to execute. We were required to take all steps to give effect to the underlying transactions.
“This was more so as I knew (Najib) had absolute power to ‘hire and fire’ anyone of us (directors) under SRC International’s company constitution,” he said.
Suboh also told the court that Nik Faisal was Najib’s “proxy” in the company, and that he conveyed messages from Najib to the directors.
“Nik Faisal will only approach me if he requires me to sign any documents,” said Suboh.
He said he initially questioned what he was signing.
“My queries would regularly be brushed aside with a statement suggesting that the underlying transaction must be done at the prime minister’s behest.
“He (Nik Faisal) will say things like ‘boss nak lah’ (the boss wants it) or ‘diminta pihak atas’ (requested by the higher-ups),” Suboh said, adding that he understood the terms “boss” and “pihak atas” to be references to Najib.
The hearing continues before Justice Ahmad Fairuz Zainol Abidin on June 20.