KUALA LUMPUR: A bomb scare and the exchange of a banker’s messages with notorious businessman Low Taek Jho @ Jho Low, the alleged brains behind the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal, were the highlight of Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s trial today.
Interestingly, in some of the chats Low refers to himself as FL, which the witness reveals stands for Fei Lor (Cantonese for fat boy), much to the amusement of everyone in court.
As if to lend more drama to the proceedings, even Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s name was raised, with the prime minister blamed for the bad press received by the sovereign wealth fund from 2014 onwards.
The proceedings started with former AmBank corporate banking Officer Joanna Yu Ging Ping being questioned about Low’s role in Najib’s bank accounts.
She said Low was the one who recommended that the former finance minister open accounts in AmBank in January, 2011.
Replying to a question during cross examination by Najib’s lawyer, Harvinderjit Singh, Yu said Low had informed her that the then Umno president needed to open the accounts as he was expecting some inward fund transfers.
However, Yu said she could not remember whether Low had mentioned the words donation from Saudi Arabia as the reason for the opening of the accounts.
On Low’s links with AmBank, she disagreed that he was a very important client of the bank between 2011 and 2015, but acknowledged that he was “one of the bigger clients”.
“I don’t think he was a very important client… all our clients are important.
“We handle a lot of infrastructure projects similar in size to the deals Low was bringing in.
“But yes, he was one of the bigger clients.”
It was previously revealed that Low had brought business in excess of RM10 billion for the bank by 2013.
Yu also talked about how Low had insisted that Najib’s banking statements not be sent to the then prime minister’s house in Jalan Langgak Duta.
She said this was relayed to her in an e-mail which read: “No, No, No… do not send the statements to his house… super sensitive.”
The exchange took place in 2011, Yu confirmed.
Yu, who is the 54th prosecution witness, has been questioned at length on the Black Berry messenger exchanges with Low, which have been tendered as evidence in the trial.
The defence has since been trying to establish Low’s role in the management of Najib’s accounts.
Harvinderjit asked if she had previously shared the messages with Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reporters Bradley Hope and Tom Wright, who were also the authors of the best selling novel “Billion Dollar Whale”.
However, Yu denied doing so.
Harvinderjit: Have you read the book?
Yu: I have not read it.
Harvinderjit: On purpose?
Yu: Yes
Later, Harvinderjit asked Yu about the failed initial public offering (IPO) of 1MDB and Dr Mahathir’s role in the bad press concerning the fund.
Harvinderjit: The IPO did not take off because of the bad press, yes?
Yu: Yes
Harvinderjit: The bad press was because of Dr Mahathir?
Yu: I am not sure but there were a lot of reports in the media.
Najib had previously blamed the failed IPO exercise on “relentless attacks” against 1MDB by Dr Mahathir.
He was reported to have said that when the attacks happened, the IPO exercise could not be carried out leading to cash flow problems faced by the wealth fund.
Harvinderjit will continue cross examining Yu on Monday.
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, 66, the Pekan member of parliament is accused of committing the offences at the AmIslamic Bank Bhd, Jalan Raja Chulan, and the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya between Aug 17, 2011 and Feb 10, 2015. (BERNAMA)
Earlier, just before the lunch break, Judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali was forced to halt the hearing after a bomb threat was issued for the court complex.
Everyone was forced to vacate the building as police swept the complex for explosive devices.
People were allowed back in after police gave the all clear about 2pm.
Najib, 66, is facing six charges of money laundering and criminal breach of trust. He is accused of transferring RM42 million into his accounts from SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former subsidiary of 1MDB.
He is also accused of abusing his power as then prime minister and finance minister by giving government guarantees on SRC International’s RM4 billion loan from the Retirement Fund Inc (KWAP).
The Pekan member of parliament is accused of committing the offences at the AmIslamic Bank Bhd, Jalan Raja Chulan, and the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya between Aug 17, 2011 and Feb 10, 2015.
– NST
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