The criminal trial of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak involving the alleged misappropriation of funds from SRC International Sdn Bhd enters its 47th day today at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysiakini brings you live reports of the proceedings.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Yu turned down Jho Low's offer to join SRC International
- Witness: Jho Low referred to as the 'Fatty One'
- Jho Low may have control over SRC International banking instructions
- Lawyer says witness ‘acting ignorant, evasive'
Yu turned down Jho Low's offer to join SRC International
10.23am - Former AmBank relationship manager Joanna Yu testifies that she and the rest of her team refused an offer by fugitive businessperson Jho Low to work at SRC International.
She tells lawyer Harvinderjit Singh this when he refers to a chat log between the 54th witness and Jho Low dated Nov 24, 2013.
According to the chat log, Jho Low asked whether Yu knew any good CFO (chief financial officer) for SRC International.
At one point in the chat, there was a statement along the lines of "Can I hire Daniel Lee too?", to which Harvinderjit (photo, above) asks Yu what this meant.
Yu: I think he wanted to hire all of us (Yu, her team member Lee among others), and we said no.
Harvinderjit: That is a very lucrative, RM60,000 (salary).
Yu: We did not want to work with them.
Witness: Jho Low referred to as the 'Fatty One'
10.14am - Wanted businessperson Jho Low was referred to as the "Fatty One" by 1MDB executive finance director Terence Geh.
Former AmBank relationship manager Joanna Yu testifies that Geh referred to Jho Low as such during a messaging conversation between Geh and her on Nov 7, 2013.
Jho Low may have control over SRC International banking instructions
10.05am - The court hears from former AmBank relationship manager Joanna Yu that 1MDB-linked businessperson Jho Low may have control over SRC International's banking transactions.
In her testimony under cross-examination by the defence, Yu agrees to a suggestion that former SRC International director Terence Geh was a subordinate to Low.
Lawyer says witness ‘acting ignorant, evasive'
9.34am - "She is not explaining, acting ignorant, evasive."
Lawyer Harvinderjit Singh describes former AmBank relationship manager Joanna Yu during cross-examination.
Najib Abdul Razak's defence counsel is explaining his line of questioning of the 54th witness, which elicited objection from DPP Sithambaram (photo, above).
Earlier, Harvinderjit questions her over AmBank documents seized by MACC.
"Let her finish, she is trying to explain," Sithambaram tells Harvinderjit.
Sithambaram is objecting to Harvinderjit's style of cross-examination which purportedly kept cutting Yu off before she could finish her answers.
Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali then gently asks the matter to proceed and to let her answer.
Najib enters the dock
9.13am - Najib enters the dock as proceedings begin.
8.59am - Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak enters the court and takes a seat at the front row of the public gallery.
Also seen in court awaiting the beginning of proceedings are Attorney-General Tommy Thomas and DPPs, as well as Najib's defence counsel Harvinderjit Singh and other defence lawyers.
Today will mark the sixth day that former AmBank customer relationship manager Joanna Yu will take the stand to be cross-examined by Najib Abdul Razak’s defence team.
As the former prime minister’s RM42 million SRC International trial before Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali enters its 47th day, the 54th witness is set to face further questioning over her dealings with fugitive financier Low Taek Jho.
Since the defence began questioning Yu on July 23, their strategy appears to be an attempt to unravel the role purportedly played by wanted businessperson Low in directing Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil – former SRC International CEO and mandate holder for Najib’s accounts – to transfer millions of ringgit in and out of the accused’s accounts.
Like Low, the whereabouts of 48-year-old Nik Faisal is unknown. According to the police, Nik Faisal is “in hiding” somewhere in Southeast Asia.
Defence counsel Harvinderjit Singh's line of questioning had at times also focused on trying to uncover whether Yu herself was merely taking orders from Low in arranging the massive monetary flows in and out of Najib's three AmBank current accounts, which are central to the former premier's seven charges involving abuse of power, corruption, and money laundering.
-Mkini
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