Najib, the first defendant, said this when queried by SRC International’s lawyer, Kwan Will Sen, in the company’s US$1.18 billion (RM5 billion) civil suit against him and SRC former CEO Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil, who is at large.

Kwan: With your criminal conviction (in the SRC International corruption case) and all the matters that transpired at SRC International, do you have any regrets, Datuk Seri?

Najib: I have certain regrets, but at the material time, I didn’t have knowledge or information.

To another question about the monies from SRC International and Retirement Fund Inc (KWAP) that went into his personal account, Najib maintained his testimony that he had no knowledge about it.

Kwan: I suggest to you that, for a person with great power, you will also agree that there is greater accountability and responsibility on your part to act in accordance with the law and to not use or benefit personally from the monies of KWAP or SRC International. Do you agree or disagree?

Najib: I maintain that I had no knowledge of the flow of funds at all, but I will agree with the statement that as the finance minister, I was in a position of accountability. That, I agree.

In May 2021, SRC International filed the lawsuit under its new management, accusing Najib of breach of trust, abuse of power, personally benefiting from the company’s funds and misappropriating the said funds.

SRC International previously removed five of its directors from the lawsuit, retaining Najib as the sole defendant. However, the High Court permitted Najib to issue third-party notices against them.

The company is seeking a court declaration holding Najib accountable for the company’s losses due to his alleged breach of duties and trust and for him to compensate them for the RM42 million in losses they incurred.

The trial before Justice Ahmad Fairuz Zainol Abidin continues on Oct 21.