Jho Low engineered 'reversal' of RM32m that went to Najib - witness

NAJIB TRIAL | Businessperson Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, engineered the "reversal" of RM32 million that was transferred to former premier Najib Abdul Razak's bank account, the Kuala Lumpur High Court heard today.

Based on the cross-examination of former AmBank relationship manager Joanna Yu, it was established that Low had instructed the banker to do so before Dec 31, 2014.

The first transfer involved remitting RM27 million to Permai Binaraya Sdn Bhd's bank account from Najib's AmBank account ending with the number 880.

The second transfer involved remitting RM5 million to Putra Perdana Construction Sdn Bhd from Najib's AmBank account ending with the number 906.

The main liaison between Permai Binaraya and Yu was Jerome Lee while the main liaison for Putra Perdana Construction was Terence Geh.

It has been established during the course of the trial that both Lee and Geh were affiliates of Low.

Both companies are owned by Putra Perdana Bhd.

Yu agreed with defence counsel Harvinderjit Singh that the purpose of reversing the transaction was so that Putra Perdana Bhd's audited financial statement for the year 2014 would show that cash advances from the company had been zeroised.

Purported deception by Low

Yu (below) agreed that she would have notified the bank's management if she got somewhat suspicious on whether Low was really in communication with account holder Najib.

She conceded this when questioned by Harvinderjit about whether she ever began to question if Low was really communicating with the account holder during transactions.

Harvinderjit: You agree that if during the time dealing with Jho Low, you got strong suspicion that he was not communicating with the account holder, you would have raised it with the (AmBank) bank?

Yu: I would have raised with (then Ambank director) Cheah (Tek Kuang)

Harvinderjit: Then you would have been reluctant to deal with Jho Low on dealing with Najib’s accounts?

Yu: Yeah.

Harvinderjit: You only got strong suspicion later?

Yu: When closing the accounts.

Harvinderjit: You agree that this whole thing is to keep your confidence?

Yu: He dealt with Cheah, too.

Harvinderjit: You agree that his (Low) representation to you that he communicated with the account holder was to have your confidence?

Yu: I assumed he was.

Proceedings before Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali will resume tomorrow morning. - Mkini