A KEY WITNESS is under heavy guard ahead of his appearance for the prosecution in Najib Razak’s money laundering trial, said sources on the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) task force.
Authorities have not identified the man in his 50s, who was reportedly persuaded to return from Bangkok after being on the run for several months.
“Unlike the others, we cannot reveal his identity as his life may be at risk,” the source told The Malaysia Insight.
The source said the witness had information on the “shady dealings” that had occurred in relation to millions of SRC International Sdn Bhd’s money.
Former prime minister Najib was last month charged with three counts of money laundering, under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, Anti-Terrorism Financing Act and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
This was on top of the three counts of criminal breach of trust and one count of abuse of power that he was charged with in July, in connection with RM42 million found in his bank account, from SRC International, a former subsidiary of 1MDB.
Najib claimed trial to all seven charges.
The unidentified man who is the the prosecution’s key witness is believed to have aided in the transfers of millions of ringgit linked to 1MDB and SRC International.
It is learnt the man had fled Malaysia just after the general election, when the authorities announced they would begin investigations into misappropriation of funds from 1MDB.
The source, however, said the witness now in custody was not Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil or Low Taek Jho.
Checks by The Malaysian Insight showed that those previously on the SRC International board of directors were Suboh Md Yasin, Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil and Mohamed Azhar Osman Khairuddin.
It was previously reported that MACC had met Suboh in Indonesia and that he had since been placed under the witness protection programme.
Nik Faisal is still wanted by Malaysian authorities while it is unclear whether the authorities are still looking to question Mohamed Azhar.
Two other individuals on the MACC’s wanted list in connection with the case are Mohamed Redzuan Adamshah from Brickfields, and Toh Lean Seng from Jalan Tun Razak, both in Kuala Lumpur.
THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT
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