Why is the Finance Ministry witness unable to recall 1MDB details?

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Finance Ministry Witness Cites Memory Lapses Regarding 1MDB Details

A prosecution witness who previously served in the Finance Ministry, Datuk Siti Zauyah Md Desa, repeatedly stated during court proceedings that she could not recall specific details related to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). These memory lapses extended to events as far back as 2009, significantly impacting the cross-examination process in the trial of former finance minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak concerning the alleged misappropriation of RM2.28 billion of 1MDB funds.
Inability to Recall Specific Events and Information

Datuk Siti Zauyah Md Desa, who held the position of deputy secretary-general (policy) within the Finance Ministry from 2016 to 2019, frequently responded with "I cannot recall" or "I don’t know" when questioned about 1MDB-related matters. This inability to remember specific details was evident even when asked about a June 2010 invitation from the Finance Ministry to 1MDB for a meeting concerning corporate affairs. She also could not confirm whether 1MDB was officially part of the Finance Ministry or if former 1MDB CEO Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi was an employee of the ministry.
Impact on Court Proceedings

The witness's persistent difficulty in recalling information led to prolonged pauses during her testimony and required the lawyer to repeat questions multiple times. At one point, the presiding High Court judge, Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, intervened, suggesting that the defence lawyer, Wan Aizuddin Wan Mohammed, submit certain points as part of the defence's case later, remarking that the line of questioning was "going nowhere." This intervention highlighted the challenges in eliciting specific testimony from the witness regarding the pertinent period.
General Context of Memory Recall

Generally, the ability to recall specific events and details can be affected by the passage of time, the nature of the information, and the level of emotional or cognitive engagement at the time of the original event. For information related to complex financial dealings or administrative processes that occurred over a decade ago, it is not uncommon for individuals to experience challenges in remembering precise details without access to comprehensive records or recent engagement with the subject matter. The procedures for financial oversight and record-keeping within government ministries typically involve extensive documentation, but the accessibility and clarity of such records years later can vary.

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Why is the Finance Ministry witness unable to recall 1MDB details?

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