Testifying at his 1MDB trial, the ex-prime minister said the former attorney-general “did not pass” the elevation process to be appointed a Federal Court judge.

He told the High Court the process began in 2015, but did not say what it entailed.

Najib previously testified that he had recommended Gani’s elevation to the apex court but said the plan did not materialise.

Gani was AG for 13 years from 2002 to 2015. He is now a practising lawyer.

Asked by deputy public prosecutor Kamal Baharin Omar why Gani’s services as AG were terminated, Najib said it was due to “health problems”.

Kamal: Did you know that there was a “draft charge” against you which went viral?

Najib: I heard of the rumours but I did not check.

Kamal: Do you agree that Gani’s removal from service was related to this draft charge?

Najib: I disagree.

Kamal then noted that the late former chief secretary Ali Hamsa had testified against Najib in his 1MDB audit report trial. “He said you instructed him to give Gani a letter removing him as AG.”

Najib said Ali’s testimony was “not correct”. He said he would not have recommended Gani for appointment as a Federal Court judge if he did not trust him.

‘I didn’t transfer Abu Kassim’

Najib also denied instructing that then Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Abu Kassim Mohamed and two deputy commissioners – Shukri Abdull and Mustafar Ali – be removed from office.

He said Abu Kassim at the time was willing to adhere to a “change of leadership” in MACC, and was prepared to take a role outside the anti-graft body.

“I never sacked him,” Najib insisted.

He also denied instructing former Bank Negara Malaysia governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz to issue a media statement clearing him of wrongdoing in relation to his bank activities.

The hearing continues before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah.

Najib is standing trial on 25 charges of abuse of power and money laundering involving 1MDB funds amounting to RM2.28 billion deposited into his AmBank accounts between February 2011 and December 2014.