1MDB TRIAL | Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak testified he was taken for a ride by “charismatic” fugitive businessperson Low Taek Jho (Jho Low).
The former finance minister said this to the Kuala Lumpur High Court, explaining why Low (above, left) was seen at his residence at Langgak Duta on certain occasions.
The former chairperson of 1MDB's board of advisers said his confidence in Low arose from the compelling image the businessperson projected, with endorsement from a previous Agong and the ability to connect with Middle Eastern royalty.
"Furthermore, Jho Low's ties to the Saudi royal family proved invaluable during the Arab Spring crisis in Egypt, when he used these connections to facilitate the evacuation of thousands of Malaysians stranded in Egypt to Saudi Arabia without a visa and subsequently back home to Malaysia. He even secured two Boeing 747 flights to bring the Malaysians home.
"To me, Jho Low's ability to establish such high-level connections reinforced the belief that he could be trusted to advance Malaysia's interests on the international stage.
"Also, what set this slightly pudgy young man apart was his remarkable charisma and an extraordinary ability to navigate across diverse and influential circles and consistently position himself as someone who could deliver results for Malaysia.
"Another notable example was his advance notice to me that Saudi Arabia had agreed to increase Malaysia's Haj quota by 10,000, which was a special approval given to me upon my written request to His Majesty (Saudi king).
"His cultivated image of professionalism and strategic competence, paired with his persuasive demeanour, made him appear as someone deserving of trust and confidence," Najib testified during the RM2.27 billion 1MDB abuse of power and money laundering trial against him.
The former premier explained that he had no reason then to doubt Low's intentions or actions and that his interactions with the businessperson were always guided in the perceived best interests of Malaysia.
Over-sensationalised
However, Najib reiterated that he never authorised Low to perpetrate wrongdoing at 1MDB.
"Unfortunately, my trust in Jho Low has been exploited, and I am now being falsely implicated as complicit in his wrongdoing simply because of his presence at my residence and the purported close connection with me," the accused lamented.
Najib also contended that this issue was further over-sensationalised by multiple key prosecution witnesses.
They are 1MDB's former CEO Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi, the fund's former general counsel Jasmine Loo and Najib's former relationship manager Joanna Yu.
Najib noted that these witnesses admitted visiting Low's residence at Jalan Kia Peng, Kuala Lumpur.
"Shahrol (made) admission in court that he made fried rice for Jho Low, and let us not forget that Yu made Jho Low soup when he was unwell.
"For the record, I never prepared any meals for Jho Low," Najib told trial judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah.
On Oct 30, the criminal court ordered Najib to enter his defence over four abuse of power and 21 money laundering charges involving RM2.27 billion of funds from 1MDB.
Najib is serving a six-year jail sentence over a separate abuse of power case involving RM42 million of funds from SRC International, a former subsidiary of 1MDB. - Mkini
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